MLS games to air on NBC networks starting in 2012

[JonLP24]

NEW YORK -- Major League Soccer games will be televised by NBC's networks starting next season, doubling the number of homes in which dozens of games will be available.

The package currently on Fox Soccer Channel will move mainly to the NBC Sports Network, Versus' new name beginning Jan. 2. The cable channel will air 38 regular-season games, three playoff games and two U.S. men's national team matches each year.

NBC will broadcast two regular-season MLS games, two playoff games and two national team appearances under the three-year contract announced Wednesday.

"It shows our sport is ready for prime time," MLS commissioner Don Garber told The Associated Press.

The deal became possible after Comcast, Versus' parent company, officially took over NBCUniversal in January. Not only will a handful of games be available to a broader audience on NBC, but Garber is confident soccer will get invaluable exposure through advertising during the network's coverage of other sports, from "Sunday Night Football" to the Stanley Cup playoffs to the Olympics.

http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/6850055/mls-games-air-nbc-networks-starting-2012

[KamaAina]

1. They could show LOTS of it on Telemundo

also part of the Comcast/NBC conglomerate.

[El Supremo]

2. That's where it belongs...

in a foreign language.

:hide:

[rep the dems]

5. ...

:toast: :thumbsup:

[RockaFowler]

3. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OK, this is nothing against Soccer per say, but NBC kills me with their Sports Programs on the weekend. I sell Paid Programs on the weekend. We do pretty good until NBC adds a stupid Rodeo event or Bull Riding or the World of Adventure crap.

[MrCoffee]

4. Fantastic deal for MLS...exposure is essential now that the league has some quality to it

FSC was lousy for MLS, they (FSC) always treated MLS like crap, and since no one gets FSC anyway, no one watched.

Versus is basic cable in most places, right?

[HuckleB]

6. Yup. I always had to go to a bar, if a game I wanted to watch was on FSC.

Well, I'll note that I don't have cable or satellite, anyway. However, I have plenty of friends who do (we usually gather at their places to watch games), and none of them had FSC either.

[Upton]

7. I've got DirecTV..

and FSC is part of the sports pack which costs a whopping 12.99 a month. Perhaps your friends are cheap.

[HuckleB]

8. Or maybe their priorities are different than yours.

FSC sucks, any way you look at it.

[Upton]

10. Perhaps..

but I'm only pointing out that FSC and FSC+ are available at a cheap price for those who truly enjoy the sport..

And any channel which shows the EPL and CL live doesn't suck..

[HuckleB]

12. It's not available on every provider.

And $150 a year is not cheap.

[MrCoffee]

13. 12.99, on top of whatever cable/satellite costs

I don't have cable, but I get Arlo White calling Sounders matches on broadcast, and the radio call is just fine for me when the Sounders are on FSC/ESPN (which has happened 9 times this year in league play, not counting the ManUre friendly ass-whipping and CCL, which FSC has all rights to).

[Upton]

9. FSC is all about the EPL..

which is far preferable to the MLS anyway. Moving the MLS off FSC might actually be a good thing for me personally, because it will leave more time for replays of any Arsenal matches I might have missed. I'll take a replay of some EPL action over some boring live MLS anytime..

The only MLS I watch is the Sounders, I have no interest in MLS games involving other clubs because there just isn't enough of that "quality" you speak of. I think a lot of people feel the same way..

[HuckleB]

11. More and more people are paying attention to MLS games besides ones involving their home town team.

That population (in the US) seems to be growing far faster than the population that's already in place, with its stuck in the mud, "EPL is God" notions. The fan bases brought into the league in the past few years are not like the much more casual US fans of EPL and the earlier MLS teams.

[MrCoffee]

14. Compared to even 5 years ago, MLS has grown in quality

No one is claiming that MLS is anywhere near EPL, but it is getting better. National TV exposure will help draw more talent to the leauge, which is a good thing.

I don't watch MLS because it's better than EPL, because it clearly isn't. But it's a lot better than it was, and will continue to improve.

[Renew Deal]

15. Great news

:bounce: