Here are the details: Link

Now I will have to figure out how this translates into exactly which specific NBC-owned channels will carry the games and if they are part of my basic cable package so I can dump unneeded channels.

As I understand it, they will be spread across NBC, NBCSports (Vs), etc. Now I have to figure out how to get NBCS without pissing off the wife...

LOL Dave! Good luck! I guess I'll hang tight and see how it all plays out. At least Disney didn't buy this, too!

Wow NBC got F1 and now English Premiere League too, I am going to be watching lots of NBC!

Hope this leads to more F1 and Soccer fans here in the US...

Pretty awesome! I was floored when I heard that NBC got the BPL. Its good news. I have been watching both MLS and BPL games the last few weeks. I will say there is a big difference in both leagues. Love it. Really hope this generates more interest here in the states.

Is that good news?? Given the abysmal effort for the Olympics are they up to it?

Cool....I get NBC on regular cable...now I have a reason to watch it

Good point :-)

But with Soccer and F1 they actually have to show the event itself and not just a heartwarming story about the athletes like with the olympics.

How many people in America watch the EPL? 25? 30?

I'd guess it is much bigger especially in areas that have popular local soccer teams or lots of immigrants, last year I went to the friendly game where Manchester United came to play my local Seattle Sounders and it was a sellout crowd with a huge percentage of the crowd wearing ManUnited jerseys...

At the local car dealer this weekend I was waiting for my car and switched the TV in the waiting room to FoxSoccerChannel to watch the end of a EPL match and ended up talking EPL with another customer waiting there and one of the sales guys, both of them and myself follow EPL and we were all 3 random people.

Probably in other areas of the country it might not be as big, but I would guess in certain cities with lots of immigrants or an MLS team, there is a sizable audience more than your 25-30 estimate, outside the US Soccer is the biggest sport and we can only remain ignorant here for so long ... I kid I kid...

Also EPL soccer style tends to be faster with more end to end play and aggressive play than some other leagues including MLS, so I think it might get some new fans that tune in by accident...

You may be surprised at the popularity of EPL in the U.S.

That would in millions, right?

The fact that NBC would make an effort to outbid anybody shows that there is money in it, so the viewership must be somewhat considerable.

Still, NBC has the ability to drive viewers away, but I do hope they bring more on board. It is nice to be able to see good caliber players. While I do enjoy MLS and have seen the quality of teams increase, there is still a good ways to go.

There must be a serious following. Maybe all the kids of the last decade or two growing up at soccer practice? I know the Mexican TV channels here in Texas have been showing Mexican soccer leagues for ages, that market is a target.

Try as I might, I just can't get hooked on this sport. A couple of Olympics, World Cup events, and even the Dallas pro soccer team on TV often during the season. Just hasn't stuck with me.

Try as I might I can't get into the sport either.


Wheels

As an adult it's probably difficult to get into another sport. I grew up with football ("soccer") and, while I can appreciate Baseball, I don't have any emotional attachment with it. And even less with Handegg.

I was over in the US during the summer when the European championships were on, and I was really surprised at the amount of interest in it. Every bar had games showing and most people seemed to be genuinely interested in watching them.

The interest has been around for a very long time, it is just recently that the sports channels are showing more and more are not part of a sports package subscription (EPL Game on ESPN2 @ 10:00 for example).

I know of no adult football or baseball leagues locally, but everywhere I have ever lived, including the small town I'm in now, there has always been an adult soccer league full of teams. Oddly there was a local rugby team for a bit so even that sport has a decent following.