Gol TV Scores Time Warner Cable Launches
Bilingual Soccer Service To Bow This Week On NY, LA, Texas Systems
By Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 8/10/2008 6:00:00 PM
Gol TV, embroiled in a carriage dispute with Dish Network, has put in one in back of the distribution net, as it will launch on Time Warner Cable this week.
The soccer-centric network, which offers feeds in both English and Spanish, will roll out on Time Warner systems serving New York, Los Angeles and Texas.
The nation’s second-largest cable operator will add Gol TV to its sports tier at channel 459 and its DTV en Español package at channel 820 in New York City. The service also will bow on Time Warner Cable’s Hudson Valley systems in New York.
In the City of Angels, the network will be added to the operator’s core Hispanic packages, including the new El Paquetazo package, at channel 856.
Additionally, Time Warner Cable will launch GolTV across its system in Texas, in San Antonio, Austin and Waco.
“Soccer has more participants than any other sport in the Americas, and as the popularity of soccer increases in North America – so does the reach of GolTV,” said Gol TV founder and CEO Enzo Francescoli in a statement. “Now Time Warner Cable subscribers won’t miss a match as the 2008-2009 seasons kickoff and the road to the 2010 World Cup begins.”
The Time Warner Cable launches come as GolTV gears up for the new futbol season in Europe. On Aug. 15, Gol TV will kick off its exclusive U.S. coverage of the opening match of Germany’s Bundesliga, followed 14 days later by the debut of the 2008-09 campaign of Spain’s La Liga 14. Moreover, Gol TV holds rights to the 2010 World Cup qualifying matches for reigning FIFA champions Italy, as well as Germany and the kings of Euro 2008, Spain.
At press time, Gol TV remained off the air on Dish Network. The parties failed to reach a new carriage agreement, when the network’s contract expired on Aug. 1.
