In an introduction to the American public, it looks like ESPN (DIS) will have David Beckham covered from all angles as there will be 19 cameras at the stadium to ensure that not one of Beckham's moves will be missed. Beckham and his new team, The Los Angeles Galaxy, will play well-known English Premier League team Chelsea later this month.
The TV coverage will be unprecedented for Major League Soccer (MLS). There will be a three-hour section of lead-in programming to the game. Included will be an hour-log documentary called, "David Beckham: New Beginnings," and a pregame show by Rob Stone and Julie Foudy.
If that isn't enough for fans, they can go to ESPN360.com and get as much stats, facts and family information on Beckham that they can consume.
Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice) will have a one-hour special of her own on NBC (GE), five days before the game even begins.
"Beckham's move to Major League Soccer is a landmark moment for the league and for soccer in America," Scott Guglielmino, ESPN's vice president of programming and acquisitions, said in a statement. "Our coverage will appear across several ESPN platforms and will chronicle this historic moment well beyond the game telecast with the depth and context it deserves."
The question to me is if it will be too much. Not so much in the amount of coverage, but in creating huge expectations. Years ago when a similar attempt was made using the most famous soccer player in the world at the time - Pele, even he wasn't enough to get soccer on the American map.
If the marketing hoopla creates expectations that can't be met, what can be done for an encore? While there will be some great short-term numbers and interest from the expanded coverage, only time can tell if it's a good strategy over the long haul to promote sports entertainment in this way.
» Victoria Beckham Reality TV Show a Disaster - Or was it? from BizofShowBiz
When the planned reality tv series starring Victoria Beckham and her family and famous husbands' move from Britain to the U.S. was dropped to a one-hour special, I knew the idea was in trouble.The U.S. critics attacked the show unmercifully,... [Read More]
Tracked on: July 18, 2007 8:35 PM | Permalink to Trackback