
<p>If you have been able to stay up or wake up early to watch the Women’s World Cup, you will have seen the usual FOX coverage of a major tournament. In a way, there are no surprises. You know what you’ll get. Since acquiring the women’s and men’s World Cup rights starting in 2015, FOX has sent many of the same faces and voices to cover games.</p>



<p>If the Women’s World Cup is a chance to be a paradigm shift, the broadcaster must play a role, too. Not only should FOX be promoting its women talent more, but it should be putting them on the center stage. For example, FOX brought Heather O’Reilly, Karina LeBlanc and Kate Gill. Each of them has playing experience. Now, they just need the broadcast experience for some of the bigger contests.</p>



<p>FOX should be embracing the chance for more diverse coverage at the Women’s World Cup. The usual faces of Rob Stone, Alexi Lalas, Stu Holden, JP Dellacamera and John Strong are center stage. However, this is an unprecedented chance to build on the popularity of women’s soccer, particularly in the United States. With record viewing numbers for group stage games already, FOX can send a message</p>



<h5>Breaking away from the norm</h5>



<p>Rob Stone and Alexi Lalas are the cornerstones of the studio coverage. JP Dellacamera and John Strong are two of the highlight names for play-by-play duties. The same goes for Jenn Hildreth. There are some familiar names as analysts, too. For example, Kyndra de St. Aubin, Aly Wagner and Danielle Slaton served in the same role going back to that <a href="https://www.foxsports.com/presspass/blog/2015/06/04/fox-sports-announces-broadcast-teams-for-group-stage-of-fifa-womens-world-cup-2015/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2015 World Cup</a> in Canada.</p>



<p>Most of the fans in the United States will tune in to watch the Women’s World Cup when the USWNT is playing. Not only have the kickoff times been somewhat favorable to an American audience, but that is simply where the interest rests in the USA. The lead analyst in studio coverage is Alexi Lalas. </p>



<p>Lalas, a polarizing figure in the American soccer media, has more than enough experience when it comes to covering a World Cup. And, while he was a player, it would be better to replace him with a top-level women’s soccer analyst. There are plenty to choose from.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Instead of tactical analysis we get smack talk on attitude. <br>How about some graphics on point-of-attack, team shape, passing completion rate, distances covered? But no, instead we get “how dare they not look angry or depressed” character attacks from this dreadful studio panel.</p>— David Kilpatrick (@DrDKilpatrick) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrDKilpatrick/status/1686314494807375872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Granted, Lalas has spent more time in the broadcasting industry. Moreover, he is someone that knows how to get interaction and involvement from the viewers. That is why FOX <a href="https://twitter.com/SOTUWithAlexi/status/1684417989154852865" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">promoted his quote in a tweet</a> from studio coverage. It is good analysis of USWNT manager Vlatko Andonovski. However, Lloyd and Hingst played with or against some of the stars on the pitch. FOX can, and should, be more active and promoting some of its women talent.</p>



<h2>FOX can look to others to see diverse World Cup coverage</h2>



<p>While FOX continues to employ many of the same faces for its featured coverage, other providers are taking a new path, one of a more diverse look for the Women’s World Cup. For reference, Telemundo announced the <a href="https://corporate.comcast.com/press/releases/telemundo-fifa-womens-world-cup-2023-broadcast-spanish-language-media-history">largest women commentary roster</a> in Spanish-language media history. </p>



<p>“For us, the Women’s World Cup is more than a premier global sporting event – it is an opportunity to contribute to something bigger, and we’re proud to enhance our coverage with experienced and diverse voices,” said Eli Velazquez, Executive Vice President of Sports, Telemundo.</p>



<p>Telemundo, with coverage available on <a href="https://imp.i305175.net/c/330866/1313913/11640" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peacock</a> as well, always thrives when it comes to broadcasting the World Cup. Is it a picture-perfect display of diversity compared to its men’s World Cup coverage? No, of course not. The sensational Andrés Cantor headlines the play-by-play duties alongside many of those who were in Qatar for the World Cup. For example, Sammy Sadovnik, Jorge Calvo and Copan Alvarez all called games for the men’s tournament. </p>



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<p>Regardless, Telemundo is making steps to get more diverse names into its coverage. To be fair, the three-person broadcast teams that Telemundo uses make that slightly easier. FOX only uses a play-by-play voice and a color commentator. Therefore, FOX just has less options available in the booth. Could FOX try something out to give more people an opportunity? Yes. That is what FOX should be doing. It should take risks and work to be different in the broadcast world rather than reverting back to what it has done for almost a decade with these high-profile competitions.</p>



<p>For instance, CBS does not shy away from taking risks either. The broadcaster recently unveiled <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/cbs-sports-golazo-adds-attacking-third-womens-soccer-show-20230712-WST-442643.html">Attacking Third</a>, an all-women crew that focuses on women’s soccer. CBS puts this program on the CBS Sports Golazo Network, which does afford CBS more freedom than FOX has during a World Cup. Although CBS does not have the rights to a World Cup, the women on the panel do a phenomenal job talking about the Women’s World Cup. Compared to FOX’s coverage, Attacking Third is a far better and more intelligent option.</p>



<p>FOX’s talent can do the same if it has the analysts available during the Women’s World Cup. </p>



<div style="background:#ffcc66;padding:10px;">
<h3>Guide to World Cup 2023</h3>
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Here are some resources to help you get the most out of the biggest event in women&apos;s soccer!
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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/womens-world-cup-tv-schedule/"><strong>Schedule:</strong></a> All the info on <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/womens-world-cup-tv-schedule/">where and when to watch</a> every game
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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/how-to-watch-the-womens-world-cup-on-us-tv/"><strong>TV Coverage:</strong></a> <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/how-to-watch-the-womens-world-cup-on-us-tv/">How to watch</a> the games on TV
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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/foxs-womens-world-cup-commentators-for-wwc-2023-20230609-WST-436709.html"><strong>Commentators:</strong></a> Find out more about the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/foxs-womens-world-cup-commentators-for-wwc-2023-20230609-WST-436709.html">studio talent and announcers</a>
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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/womens-world-cup-bracket-free-download/"><strong>World Cup Bracket:</strong></a> Map out the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/womens-world-cup-bracket-free-download/">entire tournament</a>, from the groups to the final
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<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/category/womens-world-cup/"><strong>World Cup News:</strong></a> Latest news and info for<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/category/womens-world-cup/"> Australia &amp; New Zealand 2023</a>
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While other broadcasters are developing increasingly diverse coverage, FOX continues to use its tried and tested and familiar World Cup crew.

FOX misses chance for diversity at Women's World Cup

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<p>ESPN’s broadcast of Euro 2008 was the best production ever of a soccer tournament for TV viewers in the United States. While it wasn’t perfect, it was clearly evident that ESPN had listened to the past criticism and corrected the annoying habits that had previously distanced diehard soccer fans from its network.</p>
<p>After ESPN vastly improved my impression of them this summer, I was then dismayed to discover that ESPN’s dirty habits had returned during the West Ham United against MLS All-Star Team game on Thursday night.</p>
<p>The four most annoying rules that were broken last night were:</p>
<ol>
<li>On two separate occasions, while the match was still being played and the ball was on the pitch, ESPN broke away to “SportsCenter Right Now,” a brief news update on the day’s top baseball stories. Imagine how baseball fans would feel if the same thing happened to them during the middle of an inning and ESPN broke away to soccer news.</li>
<li>A few minutes before half-time, with the match still ongoing, ESPN cut away to presenter Rob Stone who discussed what food was available for sale at the concession stands. This completely distracted commentators JP Dellacamera and John Harkes so that they too ended up talking about the food and how they were hungry. Harkes mentioned he wanted to see Stone gobble the food. ESPN then cut away again a minute later to show Stone eating corn on the cob and a burger.</li>
<li>In the second half, we were “treated” to Rob Stone standing on top of the stadium roof introducing us to the bird, yes bird, who keeps the gulls from infesting the ground.</li>
<li>ESPN sideline reporter Allen Hopkins interviewed NBA player Steve Nash and striker Kenny Cooper at pitchside. Why not conduct these interviews before or after the match instead of wasting our time during the game?</li>
</ol>
<p>By breaking away from the game, ESPN continues to commit the cardinal sin of soccer TV coverage. The message it communicates to the viewer is that the game isn’t exciting. I realize what ESPN is trying to do by putting their own spin on live coverage, but all four of the above rules broken didn’t add anything to the broadcast other than infuriating the viewer.</p>
<p>Yes, ESPN should be commended for providing HD coverage as well as great broadcasting of the game itself, but the network looks amateurish and hokey when it tries to liven up the broadcast with these idiotic cutaways.</p>
<p>It’s time for ESPN to treat its soccer coverage seriously rather than making it into a joke.</p>
<p>What do you think? Share your opinion by clicking the comments link below.</p>


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FOX misses chance for diversity at Women's World Cup

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ESPN Coverage Hits New Low With West Ham vs MLS All-Stars