ESPN’s Australian and NZ broadcast schedule for week one of 2025/26 UEFA Women’s Champions League is here. Times shown are AEDT, add two hours for NZDT.
While some matches will also appear on ESPN and ESPN2 via Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and Sky NZ, the full competition will be available exclusively through Disney+.
If so, ESPN should carry the entirety of the knockout phase at least. There is next to zero attractive programming interference from the US by then.
More live hours done effortlessly.
NBC announced commentator pairings for NBA opening night, which would become known as Coast 2 Coast Tuesday the week after.
The games are for 22 October. Sideline reporters in italic.
10.30am AEDT - Oklahoma City vs. Houston
1.00pm AEDT - Golden State vs. LA Lakers
Doubleheader seen on ESPN, to be preceded by Nothing But Net.
Then moving to Thursday and Friday, Inside the NBA will mark its first week with ESPN. They will be there all day from one hour before doubleheader tip-off to… whenever.
Commentators haven’t been assigned.
Inside’s schedule was released last week, they’ll mainly be doing the ABC slots after NCAAF finishes up for the year, plus Christmas. Not sure how often, if at all, it’ll be shown here though.
Everyone did have a go at guest hosting. Heck, even Stephen A. went solo at one point.
He is the executive producer of the show, so probably made the call. (Well, before that town hall, I hope.)
Her new chapter starts Tuesday, Nov 4 at midnight AEDT.
Meanwhile this Sunday, during the hours of 10am-2pm, ESPN will carry UFC and a likely Game 5 of the NLCS on the linear feeds.
I don’t know what they’re thinking when only one of them is justifiable, considering the NCAAF slate ESPN has on tap.
Looking forward to more of this craziness when WNBL commences. In fact, you wouldn’t have to wait long for the first scheduling problem of the season.
The opening game, Southside vs Canberra, will now broadcast exclusively on 9Go.
How is UFC not justifiable? I can’t stand it personally but it has a fan base.
And probably a bigger fan base than college football in Australia, I would say. It’s also not as if they aren’t showing college football at all: there are still 4 games being shown live over the two channels across the day.
Is it? It is still listed on the YourTV guide as airing at 2pm, and their own website still lists ESPN as airing it.
It is normally justifiable.
But this is the lineup of ABC CFB coverage that ESPN normally carries on its main channel:
This is a compelling lineup featuring all teams ranked pretty high in the AP Top 25 playing against each other. If one of them is ranked-vs-not, sure. It will become a blowout anyway.
E2 already has the potential NLCS decider which I think justifies itself.
It’s not that they show none of it, it’s that only one of it is good, at least on paper. As above.
That has changed since when I read on Foxtel to write that, I believe.
It has shown up on the EPG now when I check.
Earlier, it was something like CFB (California vs North Carolina) on E and recorded stuff on E2. Can’t remember anymore so my point is moot.
Interesting to the small subset of people In Australia who follow College football I’m sure, not the wider UFC.
Oh, I’m also not pretending as if ABC/ESPN US carries an interesting slate every single week either.
This was their Week 4 slate.
Then sure, I’m happy with UFC taking over six hours.
But this is one of the weeks with a better-than-normal slate, and ESPN AU passed up on it.
If NLCS needs game 5, they will not broadcast the game College Gameday originates from.
Just saying.
Of course if any of Sunday games become a blowout, I’d be the first to say “ESPN dodged a bullet”.
Update: Dodgers have swept. The 10.30am CFB game can co-exist with the UFC.
I’m OK with that.
That’s why they have Disney Plus now. For all these overflow feeds
Dodgers have not swept yet: they are up 3-0 in a 7 game series.
Sorry. They’re only close to doing that.
Should have known better. The door to a game 5 is still open.
In sports, if you don’t have nine linear channels like Sky NZ, then linear is at the top of the food chain, if you know what I’m saying.
They are events that have been considered “worth watching”.
ESPN’s announcer teams for their two week one double headers are out. Thursday on 509, Friday on 510.
Knicks v Cavaliers - Thursday, 10:00
Mike Breen, Richard Jefferson, Tim Legler, Lisa Salters
Spurs v Mavericks - Thursday, 12:30
Ryan Ruocco, Jay Bilas, Jorge Sedano
Pacers v Thunder - Friday, 10:30
Breen, Jefferson, Legler, Katie George
Warriors v Nuggets - Friday, 1:00
Dave Pasch, Doris Burke, Malika Andrews
Additionally the Inside team will host ESPN Tip-Off one hour prior to the first game.
The show will be seen just on 509 on Thursday in line with coverage, but for God knows what reason in America, it will also take over E2’s air despite having no games to follow.
Postgame has been given carte blanche by ESPN to last as long as they want, so don’t be surprised if 10 News (evening) comes on the air before SportsCenter.
