ESPN's SportsCenter Only Covers Soccer 1.3% Of The Time: Daily Soccer Report

The amount of airtime dedicated to soccer in the past 12 months on the United States’s top sports news program ESPN’s SportsCenter was a paltry 1.3 per cent, according to a study by Deadspin.

Out of the 289 hours of actual airtime (minus commercials) that the study measured, soccer was covered for 3.6 hours. The only two other sports that received less airtime were tennis and the Olympics.

So what does the data tell us? One, it’s good news that ESPN has decided to launch a daily soccer news program beginning August 11, so the sport can get a dedicated 3 hours a week of guaranteed coverage. Two, while the sport is growing exponentially in the United States, it still hasn’t been widely accepted by mainstream jock programs. And three, in order for soccer fans to seek out the best quality and greatest quantity of coverage, the Internet is — and will continue to be — the best option for news and highlights. After FOX Soccer shuts down in early September, the only 24/7 dedicated soccer network remaining in the United States is GolTV. beIN SPORT, while focusing mainly on soccer, features other world sports as part of its programming. And FOX Sports 1 is going to have a myriad of NASCAR, UHC and other sports, including soccer, on its network. Lastly, FOX Soccer Plus features a combination of soccer, rugby league and other sports.

TV in the United States is no longer the best or first place to go to for up-to-the-minute news or highlights.

Here are today’s world soccer news headlines:

International soccer

• ESPN’s SportsCenter covers soccer 1.3% of the time — Deadspin

Premier League

• Real Madrid to join Arsenal in race for Luis Suarez if they can’t get Gareth Bale — 101GG
• Gareth Bale could be in line to face Monaco at the weekend — Evening Standard
• David Moyes unsure whether United will make a third bid for Fabregas — The Telegraph
• Swansea City: Chico Flores doubtful for Europa League tie — BBC Sport
• Thiago Alcantara & 9 other players who rejected Manchester United — Sabotage Times
• Newcastle training is too easy complains Jonas Gutierrez — The Mirror
• Man City: Matija Nastasic suffers injury on Hong Kong pitch — BBC Sport
• Barcelona bid €29m for Chelsea defender David Luiz — 101 Great Goals
• Michael Laudrup ready for tough Euro keeper call between Vorm and Tremmel — Wales Online
• Gareth Bale in £95m plus players bid from Real Madrid — The Sun
• How media access compares between the Premier League and NFL — Sport Journalists’ Association
• Cypriot businessman Mehmet Dalman named new Cardiff City chairman — Wales Online
• Sunderland’s Alfred N’Diaye has joined Eskisehirspor on a season-long loan — Sunderland FC
• Jose Bosingwa leaves QPR by mutual consent to join Trabzonspor — BBC Sport
• Sunderland’s John O’Shea: I’ve swapped Fergie’s hairdryer for Di Canio’s flamethrower! — The Mail
• Newcastle United increase Bafetimbi Gomis bid as Lyon stand firm — Newcastle Chronicle
• “Gareth Bale cannot see himself wearing the white of Tottenham again” — 101GG
• West Ham transfers: Robert Snodgrass of Norwich is a target — The Mirror
• Chelsea are ready to table a £15m bid for Bayern Munich midfielder Luiz Gustavo — FOX Soccer

Football League

• Lottery winner backs Newport County to follow Swansea City’s Premier League miracle — Wales Online

Eredivisie

• Ajax keeper Kenneth Vermeer forgot about the team photo pre AZ Dutch Super Cup — 101 Great Goals

Serie A

• Roma drop Borriello for US tour — Football Italia

The Daily Soccer Report is your morning guide to the latest world soccer news headlines, so you don’t have to spend an hour or more scanning the Internet. We do all the work for you. Read The Daily Soccer Report on World Soccer Talk every morning to stay on top of all the news that matters.