MLS games to air on NBC networks starting in 2012

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

also part of the Comcast/NBC conglomerate.

in a foreign language.

:hide:

:toast: :thumbsup:

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.

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?

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.

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

FSC sucks, any way you look at it.

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..

And $150 a year is not cheap.

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).

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..

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.

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.

:bounce: