I can see them re-branding to FFC (Fox Football Channel). If I'm not mistaken weren't they showing or at least advertising Rugby airing on the channel in the future? If they re-branded to that name it would cover their ass and allow them to show 2 more sports in conjunction with Soccer. This would allow them to recoup any viewership losses they might receive over time from their competition eating up their US Soccer (National Team and MLS. Maybe even USL/WPS?) contracts.
I am really hoping that Vs. will put together a 30min to an hour weekly review/preview show during the week. Get some more non-game MLS coverage like most other leagues have.
Garber and co. lined this one up perfectly. In 2014, on the eve of the HUGELY popular soccer event, I can see multiple networks out bidding each other for rights to MLS/USMNT games. I could easily see the $$$ tripled what it is today by 2014.
But doesn't SUM get to dish out the World Cup rights, too? I would imagine that WC viewship in US will just keep going up and after the 2014 WC the networks will have that fresh in their memory. So, we're talking about MLS + USMNT + WC 2018,2020, right?
Fox Soccer+ already shows rugby. My hope is that someday FIFA will sign contracts with networks like FSC to broadcast WC qualifiers from around the world.
I suspect 2018 and 2022 World Cup broadcast rights could be in the mix. Ratings are improving, though depending on your definition, they may still "suck." Either way, 2014 is going to be a very interesting year for soccer in the U.S.. Maybe they'll even get that NYC team off the ground by then.
I like it in principle, but be wary of Comcast - they have a history of bitter negotiations with satellite and other providers that have left some of their stations - including Versus on DirecTV - dark for a long time (like a year). Still, exposure is exposure, and hopefully MLS is getting good revenue for it. It's nice that the ESPN games are still in play too. I will miss FSC, they did a nice job producing. I'm surprised they didn't want to air 45 games (or perhaps pay what NBC did)...but maybe their revenue model is based on selling bulk order-from-TV ads atop replays of the EPL.
Is that true? Great news I wasn't aware of. My sense has been that MLS is a league where everything (attendance, sponsorhisp, stadiums) has been coming together with the exception of TV viewership.
Good News as long as Tom Hammond stays far far far far far far far far far away from these broadcasts. Especially if they do this in HD.
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Remember how Dick's Sporting had better MLS promotion then ESPN last year. I am putting some extra expectations on NBC not to screw up MLS.
I'm glad MLS is going to be off Fox Soccer Channel, mainly due to its lack of reach. I think this new model is a great one - a few games on NBC, more on NBC Sports, more on regional sports networks and whatever left over goes to local broadcasters. Basically, I want anyone with basic cable to be able to see every single one of their local team's games. And not having FSC meant I'd miss Red Bulls games that otherwise would've been on MSG. In my mind, giving up content to a niche network is only worth it if the money is great or if no one else will show it. NBC Sports will be a major upgrade over that.
This is probably my ignorance of TV deals showing, but will this affect regional coverage of teams at all? I ask because FCD away games are typically shown on Fox Sports Southwest here (and sometimes a local independent over-the-air station, Channel 21.) Does the deal with Fox Soccer have anything to do with localized deals with channels like Fox Sports Southwest? Or is it just that the two are owned by News Corp without any real crossover?
That's a great point. What times are the games going to be played in Brazil? Will it be more of a prime time World Cup?
My dream would be having Gus Johnson calling in English, Andres Cantor in Spanish. The universe wouldnt be able to handle all the win
When Gold Cup bidding comes up again, Fox will have to step up BIG TIME otherwise I think ESPN is going to gobble it up. Final would have to be on Fox Network too.
AWESOME! I am moving to the US in two weeks now I can watch my two favourite leagues on the same network (NHL MLS).