BBC Radio 5 - can I get it in America?

[HM1]

I'm going to be on holiday for both legs of Liverpool v Chelsea in the European cup and am a Liverpool fan. Does anyone know if I can get Radio 5 in America? We will be staying near Sarasota in Florida, but in a fairly residential area so it won't be on in any pubs and we won't have internet access so won't be able to watch/listen on line. When I went to Australia a few years ago I often used to stay up on Saturday nights and listen to the Premiership on BBC Worldwide. Does this still exist and, if so, what frequency is it on? Any help welcome!

[mushroom25]

BBC world service can be heard in the Tampa area on XM Satellite Radio. The ESPN tv channel has been showing champions league games on a "pay-to-view" basis, you might be able to see the games.....

[Buenchico]

The BBC don't have international broadcasting rights for football commentaries (except as below). That means that they're obliged to ensure that their commentaries aren't available overseas. (Even if you had internet access, you wouldn't be able to hear the commentary on Radio 5. The BBC's server detects that a connection is made through an overseas ISP and blocks the commentary. That also applies if you try to connect to a football commentary, on a BBC local radio station, from overseas).

BBC World Service has the rights to broadcast commentary on just one Premiership match, each Saturday afternoon. So you can hear this, either on shortwave or via the internet, but nothing else.

Details of how to hear BBC World Service can be found here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/worldservice/psim s/ScheduleSDT.cgi

It's extremely unlikely that you'll be able to access any radio commentary for the Liverpool v Chelsea match. US broadcasters will be unwilling to pay a massive licensing fee, only to reach a relatively small audience. US TV cable and satellite broadcasters might show the match but, as Mushroom25 indicates, it's likely to be on a pay-per-view basis.

Chris

[NORMANTHEDOG]

you will be able to find it on somewhere in a bar

[auntiebertie]

Irish bars are usually a good bet to have the football on - try http://www.irishroversarasota.com/

[Pomp]

I was working in France when the world cup was on, and was unable to get highlights and commentaries on BBC websites / radio stations. Like someone else said, somehow they can figure out what country you are in, and if you're not in the UK, you won't be able to listen to it.

The alternative is to head to an Irish Bar!!

[HM1]

Thanks for all your help. Unfortunately a pub isn't an option as we have a 14 month old baby and it will be very tricky to keep her entertained! I guess we'll just have to rely on frequent text updates from home.

[auntiebertie]

Tell the wife you are going out to get the groceries - and head to the pub...but don't forget to buy a pintof milk on the way home to keep your cover story!

[HM1]

I am the wife!

[markja]

the technical wizards will be able to tell you.
i wonder if a uk computor could log into the bbc and then foward it on to the usa.
you may be able to save the commentry then send it as an email even, can you download entire broadcasts/ podcasts of a footy game?

[Buenchico]

For Markja (with apologies to HM1):
As you indicate, it's possible that someone overseas could connect to the BBC website through a UK-based proxy server.

There are two reasons why I didn't mention this:
1. Using proxy servers involves installing special software and finding a suitable proxy (which can be difficult) ;

2. HM1 specifically states, in her question, that she has no internet access!

Chris

[markja]

reply to chris,
sorry for the delay, as you noticed i didn't read the question fully.