Job Discussion Forums

colonel · Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 89 Location: Nanyang and Cha-Am

Are there any providers of a package which includes English football in China? I'm 'in the sticks' and have run into a brick wall as far as anything other than CCTV9. Whilst it has some interesting aspects I cannot see myself remaining content, on a dark winter's night, watching another installment of 'Culture Express'. Is there any hope for me?

bendan · Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 739 Location: North China

The local cable station would have been showing English football as part of its sports channel, but the season's over now. Next season the rights are with a subscription channel from Guangdong which specialises in football. It's only really available if you have the new digital cable TV service, and it's 188 yuan a month.

You could just get a satellite dish, set top box and card for the Philippine Dream TV. It's widely available as a package for around 1500 RMB, though it's not legal. You'll need to get the card renewed from time to time.

Adeem · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 1:04 am Post subject:

Don't waste your valuable time and money on subscription TV. The way forward over here is watching as much live football as you can take (plus a zillion other channels ranging from BBC to 24 hour streaming family guy, depending on which program you are using) using p2p TV software on your computer.

If you have a broadband connection and a computer that is not completely pants, then go to www.football4less.com and you will find all the information you need. I would recommend getting TVants, ppMate and TVU player, which between them will give you all the channels you need (ESPN, STARSports, Fortune TV cover most of my football bases).

It has served me well, so hook up and enjoy (plus it is legal!)

bendan · Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 739 Location: North China

colonel · Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 89 Location: Nanyang and Cha-Am

Gentlemen, Many thanks for your help.

jammish · Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 1704

I'm still gutted about the games going over to this private channel. I would pay for it, but I've no idea how to go about doing so. It's fucking annoying. You would have thought that the EPL would be far from happy too, as it will dramatically reduce the audience in China for the football. As it stands there are around 30 million regular viewers, far more when it involves a chinese player. How many chinese will pay 188 RMB a month? Not many.

cj750s · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 2:12 am Post subject:

you can cut your cost on Satellite by searching the Chinese web boards for downloads of code number generators..if the code changes ..it is up on the board in hours...

CJF · Joined: 13 Mar 2007 Posts: 28 Location: Wuxi

I have been watching (almost) live Barclays League games on CCTV 5 on Saturdays and Sundays all winter, plus they show FI racing and GP M/cycle racing. Will this be the same next year ? don't know, haven't heard.

It's not bad as a sport channel if you pick and choose and I think it's a normal free terrestial channel.

CCTV 6 shows some US and British films but usually dubbed into Chinese.

CCTV 9 is diabolical in all of it's output.

jammish · Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 1704

Are you sure it was on CCTV5? The games are usually on the local channels via ESPN.

CJF · Joined: 13 Mar 2007 Posts: 28 Location: Wuxi

Well, it says CCTV 5 in the top left hand corner of the screen and all the studios have CCTV 5 logos everywhere. I used to get the games on another channel too, but that one has disappeared. I,m in a campus apt. so maybe the college has a cable link or similar. I must ask.

colonel · Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 89 Location: Nanyang and Cha-Am

Chinese commentary, presumably?

CJF · Joined: 13 Mar 2007 Posts: 28 Location: Wuxi

Yes, always, it is after all a Chinese state broadcasting channel. I usually turn the sound off although that does detract a bit from the atmosphere as the crowd can't be heard telling the referee he is a w***ker !!.
Still, better than no match at all.

colonel · Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 89 Location: Nanyang and Cha-Am

Agreed, but watching the World Cup in Thailand last year in Thai is still fresh in my mind. Pleasure is a short interlude between long periods of pain and the pain lasted!!

Adeem · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 10:38 am Post subject:

The picture quality varies wildly from crap to pretty decent, but then I never had any problem watching grainy, 10 year old, recorded-over-20-times VHS tapes while I was young. The English commentary is certainly a bonus, and SIPTV allows you to practise your Chinese on their comedic outbursts whilst listening to the more sane Brit commentary underneath.

However (and not to hijack the thread), I have noticed the the standard of commentary is going way, way down for football, or is it that the cliche bank is starting to fill up and get recycled more often?

bendan · Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 739 Location: North China

Seems like there is no need, seeing as it's on CCTV-5.