I think many soccer fans agree that coverage of the sport improved in 2010-11 over previous seasons. Whether it be the Premier League getting more games on channels more people get with Sportsnet One (instead of Setanta), virtually every Real Madrid and Barcelona game on GolTV Canada (something that didn’t happen last year), Serie A games being available in HD on a mainstrem sports station for the first time or more Ligue 1 games being available than ever before (albeit to a small audience in Ontario only).
There is only one problem: Bundesliga fans feel very left out. Bundesliga coverage actually dropped off late in the season as GolTV US cut back from two games a week, to just one most weeks to save money. If you as me, the Bundesliga is one of the most exciting European leagues to watch. There are full stadiums, loud crowds and lots of goals. Plus, it has now passed the Serie A to become the 3rd best football league in Europe. According to Statistics Canada 10.18% of Canadians consider their ethnic orgin to be German. That puts it only behind English, Scottish, French and Irish. On top of that Germany is a major economic hub in Europe.
So, there is my agrument, short and simple. Germany is a great country, the Bundesliga is an amazing league (and it is only getting better) and with the right promotion it could be really popular in Canada. Some network needs to actually put the time and money into it though. I don’t care what network does it. If the Sunday morning Bundesliga games were available to me, then I guarantee I would watch one of them every week. Anyone else with me?
A Rouge Point 
I’m with you. The Bundesliga is my favourite league in the world – bar none.
Nothing beats watching teams play in Germany, such as Bayern Munich playing at the Allianz Arena.
I have lost respect for the networks this year in not showing the Bundesliga.
Looking forward to seeing somebody step up.
The Bundesliga is a very underappreciated league in North America, and there are historical reasons for that that can’t really be circumvented. However, the quality of the play could certainly win some people over if certain conditions could change.
First, it needs to be shown in HD. With the Premiership, Serie A and MLS all being broadcast, at least partly, in HD, leagues that aren’t are at a serious and increasing disadvantage.
Second, it needs a dedicated slot at least once a week, and that doesn’t mean the Friday game. Gol TV will go to La Liga in any scheduling conflict, and obviously sees the Bundesliga as its #2 property. That doesn’t have to change, because the early Saturday games in Germany are always over by the time the first game in Spain begins.
Bundesliga is broadcast in HD by GolTV Canada beginning this year; only problem is no provider has picked up GolTV HD so far. I agree 100% on the first point though.
The problem for me with the Saturday 9:30am ET games is that they tend to go head-to-head with both TSN2’s Premier League game at 7:45am and Sportsnet’s at 10am. Of course you are bound to go head to head with the Premler League, but you might be able to attract more fans vs. the expensive Setanta on Sunday mornings.
I’ve heard that the Sunday La Liga schedule will now have games at noon ET, 2pm ET and 4pm ET, like the Saturday schedule. If true, that would mean that the Sunday morning Bundesliga game doesn’t conflict with La Liga either. The problem is that ESPN and GolTV alternate 1st selection, so it all depends on when Bayern is playing most weeks (unless Schalke is playing Dortmund). I’d like to see both GolTV and ESPN show a Saturday 9:30am ET match, alternating 1st selections. Then I’d like to see them split up the other 4 games, again alternating 1st pick. That would put 3 Bundesliga games on GolTV per week, with 1-2 live for sure.