FOX network will air three Premier League matches on tape-delay on its free-to-air network between September and November of 2012.

After last year’s incredible success that FOX achieved with the TV ratings for Chelsea against Liverpool, where the network garnered an audience of 1.67 million people who watched the game, FOX has decided to repeat the formula by showing three EPL matches on tape delay alongside NFL programming.

The three matches that FOX will air are:

Sunday, September 23:

  • Liverpool vs Manchester United

Sunday, October 7:

  • Newcastle United vs Manchester United

Sunday, November 4:

  • Liverpool vs Newcastle United

All games will be televised on delay either from 2-4pm ET (for markets getting the 4pm NFL game) or from 4:30-6:30pm ET (for markets getting the 1pm NFL game).

For die-hard soccer fans in the United States who want to watch the games live, they’ll be shown as scheduled on FOX Soccer. But having the matches available to a massive US mainstream audience will certainly generate more interest and possibly record-breaking numbers.

The only concern is whether any of the FOX markets may decide to show programming other than the Premier League matches. However, FOX’s decision to show the games on tape-delay is a wise one since it should avoid most of these issues (which usually clash when EPL games are shown live on the free-to-air FOX Network, which happens to be when most religious and political programming is aired).

In January 2012, we argued that it’d be better for the free-to-air FOX Network to show EPL games on tape delay rather than live. Thankfully they listened to you, the readers.

The September 23rd airing of Liverpool against Manchester United will certainly give the EPL US TV record of 1.67 million for Chelsea-Liverpool a run for its money.

What’s your opinion about FOX keeping faith in the EPL and showing more EPL games on the free-to-air network this Fall?