Hearts vs Millwall TV Deal?

[Lennie]

http://sport.scotsman.com/football_spl.cfm?id=680122004&20040616112847

TV hope for Hearts fans

PAUL KIDDIE

DISCUSSIONS are underway which could see Hearts’ pre-season friendly against Millwall in Canada beamed live throughout Britain, the Evening News can reveal.

The Jambos take on the FA Cup finalists in the closing match of their three-game tour to Vancouver next month and the clash on the afternoon of Saturday, July 17, has been attracting huge interest on the other side of the Atlantic.

It is already scheduled to be shown live across Canada on Sportsnet, with talks aimed at expanding the coverage to this country at an advanced stage.

Channel 5 and Eurosport are understood to be interested in securing the rights to the game.

"A live transmission in the United Kingdom might well happen," said Martin Perry, of Canada’s Television Northwest Media Group.

"We are talking to the interested parties. We definitely want to do it but cannot confirm anything at this stage. Soccer is very popular in Canada and the match is being shown over here. Things are currently under discussion and we are looking into the possibility of a live transmission in Britain."

If negotiations are completed successfully, due to the time difference - Vancouver is eight hours behind the UK - the kick-off time for the match would be brought forward to the early afternoon to enable fans in Britain to catch the action in the evening.

"It would be great if we could get the game shown live in Britain," said a spokesperson for the British Columbia Soccer Association, which is hosting the pre-season tour.

A decision is expected later this week.

The trip to Vancouver sees the Jambos play the first in a series of friendlies ahead of the new SPL campaign.

The Gorgie outfit kick off the tour against Canada B on Monday, July 12, at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby.

Two days later, the Pacific Coast Soccer League All Stars provide the opposition at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria before the showpiece finale against Millwall in Burnaby.

On their return home, Hearts will take on Airdrie United at New Broomfield on Saturday, July 24 before heading to Dingwall on Wednesday, July 28, for a game against Ross County.

The first team will then play their final pre-season friendly ahead of the start of the SPL campaign on August 7, when English Premiership outfit Fulham visit Tynecastle on Saturday July, 31.

Meanwhile, Aberdeen have joined the race to sign Scott Severin after Boston United boss Steve Evans admitted the midfielder is out of his price range.

The Scotland international, who was released by the Jambos at the end of the season, is keen to try his luck in England. But Severin, who is a target for new Dons chief Jimmy Calderwood, is not expected to become the latest member of a growing Scottish contingent at York Street.

Evans said: "We could satisfy him football-wise but financially the demands look like they’re going to be a bit too high for us. I would be very surprised if he came here."

Calderwood could face competition from Kilmarnock, who are also on the trail of the 25-year-old.

Andy Kirk and Austin McCann have already moved to Boston from Tynecastle along with former Livingston striker Derek Lilley.

[DJT]

Thanks Sportsnet. Setting up a broadcast of Hearts vs. Millwall from Vancouver makes up for you not setting up a broadcast of the Olympic qualifier from Kelowna. After all, it's understandable given that Hearts and Millwall are big clubs and more Canadians are interested in them than in Canada.

So will you also show the friendlies between Canada and these clubs???