WC Games on USA TV

Replays

Prime Sports will be broadcasting tapes of the semis and finals in September. The times will vary depending on your local Prime Sports affiliate but the following should be a guide as to the dates.

In the Mid-Atalantic region Home Team Sports will broadcast:

Sep 12, 2 PM SA/France semi
Sep 13, 2 PM NZ/England semi
Sep 30, 10PM Final 


Original

The Sporting Channel has the exclusive license to provide live coverage of all 32 matches of the World Cup to the commercial establishment market (i.e. bars and clubhouses). The only way you can view all 32 matches live is from such an establishment that has bought the satellite feed from the Sporting Channel --- cost is $1995.00 for all 32 games if payment is received by May 4. After May 4 a late payment surcharge of 25% will be added, making the cost $2,495.

To order live coverage, call 1-800-Rugby-TV before May 4. You will be sent a licensing form to fill out. The feed will be encrypted using Video Cipher II Plus.

To get the times of live telecasts subtract 6 hours for the East Coast (EDT), or 9 hours for the West Coast (PDT), from the advertised kick-off times in South Africa.

However quite a few (21) Rugby World Cup games will be broadcast in the States on a tape delayed basis. Eighteen of the games will be shown by PRIME Network, while the semi-finals and the final will be shown on pay-per-view (Request TV and Viewer's Choice). The PPV price is expected to be of order $15 per game. Here is the schedule.

Date           Match                             KO (EDST)	PSNW (PDT) 
----------------------------------------------------------------
May 25         Australia vs. South Africa        Midnight	(d Midnight)
May 26         Canada vs. Romania                Midnight	9 PM (d 4:30 6/2)
May 27         Western Samoa vs. Italy           7 AM		4 AM
May 27         England vs. Argentina             11 AM		8 AM
May 27         New Zealand vs. Ireland           2 PM		11 AM
May 30         South Africa vs. Romania          Midnight	(d 11 AM 5/31)
May 31         New Zealand vs. Wales             Midnight	(d 8 PM 6/2)
June 3         Tonga vs. Ivory Coast             7 AM		4 AM
June 3         Scotland vs. France               11 AM		8 AM
June 3         Canada vs. South Africa           2 PM		11 AM
June 4         Argentina vs. Italy               7 PM (AM?)	4 AM
June 4         New Zealand vs. Japan             9 AM		6 AM
June 4         Ireland vs. Wales                 11 AM		8 AM
June 4         England vs. Western Samoa         Midnight
June 10        Win Div D vs Run-Up Div C         7 AM		4 AM
June 10        Win Div A vs Run-Up Div B         9:30 AM	6:30 AM
June 11        Win Div B vs Run-Up Div A         7 AM		4 AM
June 11        Win Div C vs Run-Up Div D         9:30 AM	6:30 AM
June 17        Semi-Final                        8:30 AM (PPV)
June 18        Semi-Final                        8:30 AM (PPV)
June 24        Final                             8:30 AM (PPV)

Notes:

 - PRIME Network is not carried by all cable companies.
 - PRIME Network may be available at a sports bar with a satellite
   dish if your cable company doesn't carry it.
 - Local cable companies that do carry PRIME Network may delay the
   broadcast times.
 - The last three games are on pay-per-view through both Request
   TV and Viewer"s Choice, which most cable companies do carry.
 - This information came from Bill Haffner, USA Rugby Manager of
   Developmental Projects.  His telephone number is (719) 637-1077.
   Plus from a Prime Sports NorthWest schedule (see last column).
The International Channel will carry a roundup and the match of the week during its Sunday rugby program (4-6 pm PDT). They will also air some games at other times. The games and times of showing were still not decided one week prior to the WC commencing. Look for postings on rec.sport.rugby about this.

For further information try:

        Your local Prime affiliate, or

                Joe Rodriguez   303 584 0300

        Pay Per View

                Contact your local operator or Sue Woods
                303 267 6106

        Sports bar & Pub

                Contact Robert Crawford on 1-800-rugby-tv

        Home satellite dish

                Michelle Jensen on 214-988-1088

It is claimed that satellite dish owners can rent a CanCom decoder from Satellite TV programmers in Canada and watch all 32 games live for $150 on TSN. TSN is broadcast on channel 2 satellite Anik e2.