FIFA World Cup on ABC

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FIFA World Cup on ABC is the branding used for presentations of the FIFA World Cup produced by the American Broadcasting Company television network in the United States. ABC first broadcast World Cup matches in 1970, when they aired week-old filmed highlights shown on ABC's Wide World of Sports. ABC would broadcast at least portions of the World Cup again in 1982. And finally, beginning in 1994, ABC was the official American network broadcaster of the World Cup up through 2014. ABC also broadcast the FIFA Women's World Cup in 1999 and 2003.

Coverage history[]

1970[]

See also: List of events broadcast on Wide World of Sports (American TV program) and List of Wide World of Sports (American TV series) announcers

The first American telecast of a World Cup match was when NBC aired the final between England and West Germany from four years prior. NBC there, aired the contest on a same-day tape delay using the BBC’s black-and-white feed.

In 1970, it was ABC's turn to broadcast the World Cup final. While ABC aired the contest between Italy and Brazil in color unlike what NBC did in 1966, ABC decided to wait until Christmas, six months after Brazil won, to show it as part of an episode of Wide World of Sports.[1][2]

1982[]

In 1982, PBS and ESPN provided the first thorough American television coverage of the FIFA World Cup. ABC[3][4] aired the first live telecast of the final. ABC aired commercials during the live action. Meanwhile, PBS aired same day highlights of the top game of the day.

Commentators
  • Giorgio Chinaglia (studio analyst)
  • Paul Gardner[5] (color commentary)
  • Mario Machado (color commentary)
  • Jim McKay[6][7][8] (play-by-play)
  • Jack Whitaker (studio host)

1990s[]

1994[]

The 1994 FIFA World Cup marked the return of the World Cup on ESPN and ABC[9] and the first time they used their own commentary teams for all matches. Roger Twibell, Seamus Malin,[10] and Rick Davis were the lead broadcast team.[11] Al Trautwig and Davis were the secondary broadcast team.[12][13][14] Other play-by-play announcers were: Bob Carpenter Bob Ley, Ian Darke, Randy Hahn, and Jim Donovan.[13][14] Other color commentators were: Clive Charles, Ty Keough, Peter Vermes,[15] Ron Newman, and Bill McDermott. Jim McKay was the studio host alongside studio analyst Desmond Armstrong only for games on ABC.

The 1994 American coverage had many firsts: The first with all of the matches televised, the first with no commercial interruptions during live action, and the first to feature an on-screen score & time box.

1998[]

See also: 1998 FIFA World Cup broadcasting rights

In 1998, all of the matches were televised in the United States live for the first time. Bob Ley[16][17][18] and Seamus Malin was the lead broadcast team with other broadcast teams include: Roger Twibell and Mike Hill, JP Dellacamera and Bill McDermott, Derek Rae and Ty Keough, and Phil Schoen and Tommy Smyth. Brent Musburger and Eric Wynalda worked in the studio.

2000s[]

2002[]

See also: 2002 FIFA World Cup broadcasting rights

The 2002 American coverage was had 59 matches live, and 5 rebroadcasts on ABC,[19] with coverage from Japan and South Korea carried live in the American late night graveyard slot.

Hockey play-by-play announcer Jack Edwards[20][21][22][23][24][25] and Ty Keough are the lead broadcast team and called the games live in South Korea and Japan. Other broadcast teams were: JP Dellacamera and Tommy Smyth, Glenn Davis and Shep Messing, and Mike Hill and Shep Messing, and Seamus Malin, however, they were based at the ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut. Terry Gannon hosted in the studio alongside studio analysts Eric Wynalda and Giorgio Chinaglia.

2006[]

See also: 2006 FIFA World Cup broadcasting rights

The 2006 coverage from Germany was fully live as well. Dave O'Brien[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] joined Marcelo Balboa on the lead broadcast team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup coverage on ESPN and ABC Sports, despite having no experience calling soccer matches prior to that year. Because The Walt Disney Company, owner of both television outlets, retained control over on-air talent, the appointment of O'Brien as the main play-by-play voice was made over the objections of Soccer United Marketing, who wanted JP Dellacamera to continue in that role. Disney stated that their broadcast strategy was intended, in voice and style, to target the vast majority of Americans who do not follow the sport on a regular basis. Mispronunciation and incorrect addressing of names, misuse of soccer terminology, and lack of insight into tactics and history plagued the telecasts, resulting in heavy criticism from English-speaking soccer fans, many of whom ended up watching the games on Univision instead.[34]

Other broadcast teams included: JP Dellacamera and John Harkes, Glenn Davis and Shep Messing, Adrian Healey and Tommy Smyth, and Rob Stone and Robin Fraser. Brent Musburger returned for his 2nd World Cup as lead studio host with other hosts Rece Davis, and Dave Revsine. Alexi Lalas, Eric Wynalda, Julie Foudy, and Heather Mitts were the studio analysts.

2010s[]

2010[]

See also: 2010 FIFA World Cup broadcasting rights

The 2010 coverage from South Africa introduced ESPN 3D for 25 matches. ESPN's coverage of the 2010 World Cup has been widely recognized as a breakthrough in US soccer broadcasting.[35] Esteemed commentator Martin Tyler[36] and Efan Ekoku led a team of all-British commentators in South Africa. Chris Fowler and Mike Tirico were the lead hosts in a studio set right outside of Soccer City in South Africa. Other broadcast teams were: Ian Darke and John Harkes, who called USMNT games, Derek Rae and Ally McCoist, Adrian Healey and Robbie Mustoe, and Jim Proudfoot and Roberto Martínez. Studio analysts were: Steve McManaman, Jurgen Klinsmann, Martínez, Ruud Gullit, Alexi Lalas, Shaun Bartlett, and Tommy Smyth. Bob Ley was another studio host, working his 4th World Cup. Reporters were: Jeremy Schaap (USA and Final), Julie Foudy, Allen Hopkins, Rob Stone, Selema Masekela, Andrew Orsatti (Australia), John Sutcliffe (Mexico), and Dan Williams[37]

2014[]

See also: 2014 FIFA World Cup broadcasting rights

The 2014 World Cup marked the end of the FIFA World Cup on ABC and ESPN. Ian Darke, Steve McManaman, and Taylor Twellman was the lead broadcast team, Jon Champion and Stewart Robson were the #2 team. Other play-by-play announcers were: Derek Rae, Adrian Healey, , and Fernando Palomo. Color commentators: Craig Burley, Efan Ekoku, Roberto Martínez, Kasey Keller, and Alejandro Moreno. All commentators were in Brazil with the top 5 teams at the stadiums while the remaining team called matches off monitors in Rio. Mike Tirico was the lead studio host alongside other hosts Bob Ley and Lynsey Hipgrave with analysts: Alexi Lalas, McManaman, Michael Ballack, Moreno, Keller, Gilberto Silva, Santiago Solari, Martínez, Twellman, and Ruud van Nistelrooy. Reporters included: Jeremy Schaap (Lead), Julie Foudy, Bob Woodruff, John Sutcliffe, Rubens Pozzi.[38]

The 2014 coverage was available on mobile devices and tablets via the WatchESPN application, as well as on Xbox 360 and Xbox One video game consoles, live and on-demand, via the ESPN on Xbox Live application.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Gumusyan, Aram (August 1, 2016). "A brief history of the World Cup, European Championship and Copa America on US TV". World Soccer Talk.
  2. ^ "Wide World of Sports Highlights -- 1970s". ESPN.com.
  3. ^ Mifflin, Lawrie (July 6, 1982). "TV SPORTS; PRESTIGE IS ABC GOAL IN CUP TV". The New York Times.
  4. ^ "ABC'S WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS: 1982 WORLD CUP SOCCER FINAL (TV)". The Paley Center for Media.
  5. ^ Woitalla, Mike (August 4, 2010). "Soccer America columnist Paul Gardner honored 08/04/2010". Soccer America.
  6. ^ Piantadosi, Roger (July 12, 1982). "ABC, McKay and Bud -- 2 of 3 Were Flat". The Washington Post.
  7. ^ Hosting the 1986 Soccer World Cup: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on. 1983. p. 76.
  8. ^ Hesse, Uli (June 16, 2015). "Toby Charles: The man who brought German football to the U.S." ESPN.com.
  9. ^ Trecker, Jerry (May 21, 1992). "ABC-ESPN DEAL A COUP FOR FIFA AND WORLD CUP '94". Hartford Courant.
  10. ^ Sandomir, Richard (1994-06-10). "TV SPORTS: SOCCER; Trying to Americanize World's Favorite Game". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  11. ^ Sandomir, Richard (1994-07-19). "WORLD CUP '94: TV SPORTS; ABC Snores Its Way for 120 Minutes". New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  12. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: TV SPORTS; ABC's Lineup for World Cup". The New York Times. 1994-03-23. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
  13. ^ a b "World Cup '94 : WORLD CUP / USA '94 : When They Play, Where to Watch". Los Angeles Times. 1994-06-12. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
  14. ^ a b "VOICES OF WORLD CUP". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
  15. ^ Chad, Norman (1994-06-30). "SPANISH PROVIDES LANGUAGE MERRIER". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  16. ^ Kent, Milton (June 4, 1998). "Soccer fans to get their fill with Cup coverage". The Baltimore Sun.
  17. ^ Rusnak, Jeff (May 10, 1998). "REGIS SET TO BOOST U.S. NATIONAL TEAM". South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
  18. ^ Sandomir, Richard (June 7, 1998). "TV SPORTS; Disney Making a Commitment to Complete Soccer Coverage". The New York Times.
  19. ^ "ABC Sports presents live coverage of the World Cup championship". ESPN.com. December 13, 2002.
  20. ^ Weintraub, Jerry (July 7, 2006). "In Defense of the World Cup Announcers". Slate.
  21. ^ Kroner, Steve (May 30, 2002). "WORLD CUP 2002 / TV coverage relies on FIFA". SFGate.
  22. ^ Sarni, Jim (June 20, 2002). "UNIVISION IS HOW TO WATCH CUP". South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
  23. ^ Sarni, Jim (May 29, 2002). "CUP IS AN EARLY-BIRD SPECIAL". South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
  24. ^ Sandomir, Richard (July 1, 2002). "SPORTS MEDIA; The Cup On ABC: Gotta Go!". The New York Times.
  25. ^ Sandomir, Richard (June 6, 2002). "ESPN Lacks Objectivity After U.S. Win". The New York Times.
  26. ^ "USA World Cup Announcer Analysis - 2002 vs 2006". Climbing the Ladder. September 5, 2007.
  27. ^ Williams, Christopher (June 11, 2006). "World Cup 2010: ABC unleashes Another Big Co*k-up". World Soccer Talk.
  28. ^ Williams, Jim (July 8, 2006). "Jim Williams: O'Brien, Balboa shine together at Cup". Washington Examiner.
  29. ^ "Misery: ABC/ESPN World Cup announcers (very minor spoiler)". Copia.
  30. ^ "Dave O'Brien doesn't know what he's talking about". Yellow Chair Sports.
  31. ^ "World Cup coverage: ABC's Dave O'Brien and Marcelo Balboa muddle through". Soccer Blog. June 18, 2006.
  32. ^ "The Sins of American Sportscasting". The New York Times. June 26, 2006.
  33. ^ "ESPN – PLEASE Show Dave O'Brien A Red Card!". On The Pitch. June 27, 2006.
  34. ^ Fatsis, Stefan (July 5, 2006). "Fans Say ESPN's World Cup Coverage Deserves Penalty". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  35. ^ "ESPN Presentation of 2010 FIFA World Cup Earns Industry Honors". ESPN Press Room. 2011-06-02.
  36. ^ Blum, Ronald (June 9, 2010). "ESPN's World Cup coverage has an English accent". The Seattle Times.
  37. ^ "Dan Williams". ESPN. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  38. ^ "ESPN TV and Radio Commentators for 2014 FIFA World Cup, Week 1 (Through June 19)". ESPN Press Room. 2014-06-09.

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