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Premier League ends with 10 simultaneous TV games

By WTOP Staff

RACHEL COHEN
AP Sports Writer

Arlo White might encourage viewers to change the channel.

White is the play-by-play announcer Sunday for the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham United on NBC. At the same time, Liverpool will be facing Newcastle on NBCSN, and White plans to keep his audience updated on how that game is going — and what that means for the title race.

Ten matches will air simultaneously on 10 different NBCUniversal networks on Championship Sunday. In the first season of its three-year, $250 million deal to broadcast English soccer’s top league in the U.S., NBC has embraced the value of offering viewers choices. Beyond the main televised matches, fans were able to watch other games online or through certain cable companies.

That culminates with Sunday’s unprecedented setup, when some networks not exactly associated with sports will air matches. USA, CNBC, MSNBC, Bravo, Syfy, Esquire Network, E! and Oxygen are also showing games on the season’s final day.

“It makes my life easier to know I don’t have to make a decision,” said coordinating producer Pierre Moossa.

NBC’s initial strategy to give many viewers access to every game at no additional cost was an acknowledgment that for the company’s investment to pay off, it needed to grow interest in the sport. Through some combination of the already surging popularity of international soccer, NBC’s promotional efforts, and the matches’ availability in more homes, viewership has soared this season. Games on NBC and NBCSN have averaged 440,000 viewers, nearly double the 221,000 on ESPN, ESPN2 and Fox Soccer a year ago.

Sunday morning’s broadcasts all start at 10 a.m. They are the latest — and biggest — example of network executives’ shift toward letting audiences pick for themselves. CBS and Turner Sports are four years into their deal to air every NCAA basketball tournament game live across multiple channels for the first time, which has been a ratings success.

NBC has long used multiple networks to broadcast the Olympics. But it has greatly expanded the options the last two games, streaming every event live online and offering a separate live telecast of the figure skating on NBCSN from Sochi in February before repackaging the competition on tape delay for prime time.

“The nature of our culture is you want that choice,” Moossa said.

The choices won’t be quite as juicy Sunday as NBC might’ve dreamed. Manchester City should need just a tie to clinch the title; Liverpool is the only other club with a chance. Relegation is likely also already determined.

But should any news be in the making at a match other than his, White won’t hesitate to let viewers know — even if that means they click away for a bit.

“In those 90 minutes, the story is going to change, is going to jump around,” White said. “My job is to anchor that and steer people in the right direction.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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