[MLS3]

First, a few weeks ago a "source" of mine said FSW and MLS were talking about trying to get a saturday night time slot for the season...thats all he said and nothing new since then, until today I saw this quote from Tino Palace (The Clean Sheet on MLSnet.com)

"While previously you always used to hear rumors it was in trouble, I now understand that Fox Sports World is doing just fine, thank you, and looking at adding some new domestic soccer properties. The MISL is up first, but I wonder how long before they go after some programming from another league here in the US?"

So anyone with info, or heard anything???

[geordienation]

No news here, just supposition from MLS's blind columnist.

I renew my same objection to these stories: 1) MLS has a deal with ESPN already. Any national broadcast would be precluded by the current deal between SUM and Disney. 2) FSW, while in increasing numbers of cable systems, has nowhere near the household penetration of any of the ESPNs. 3) FSW is, in most cases, on a digital tier where it's on cable. Putting your games on a network that's not available to mass cable audiences is suicide. If you're MLS, you already have those people. The key is to be available to new audiences. 4) Until the Fox/Comcast pissing match is resolved re: OLN, there is a serious viability question here. If the largest cable company in the US has stated it has a vested interest in not putting your network on the air, you've got problems.

Return to your lives citizens.

[MLS3]

Ya, its not like FSW would take over for ABC/ESPN2....

If you remember last season, MLS signed the deal with ABC/ESPN and that they weren't exclusive, MLS can do deals with other stations to broadcast games...so if they want they can have the 4:00pm EST on ABC/ESPN2 and a 8:00pm EST on Fox Sports World...


P.S.

Just so people who can't read know, i'm not saying oh why doesn't MLS goto Fox and leave ABC/ESPN...MLS to Fox, etc...I'm saying MLS and FSW are discussing a saturday night time slot...

[FootyMundo]

Originally posted by MLS3


"While previously you always used to hear rumors it was in trouble, I now understand that Fox Sports World is doing just fine, thank you, and looking at adding some new domestic soccer properties. The MISL is up first, but I wonder how long before they go after some programming from another league here in the US?"

So anyone with info, or heard anything???

I can confirm that the network turns a profit, which is nothing to sneeze at.

[MetroDug]

Originally posted by MLS3
...so if they want they can have the 4:00pm EST on ABC/ESPN2 and a 8:00pm EST on Fox Sports World...

i think they'd be crazy not to do this

[monster]

Originally posted by geordienation
No news here, just supposition from MLS's blind columnist.

I renew my same objection to these stories: 1) MLS has a deal with ESPN already. Any national broadcast would be precluded by the current deal between SUM and Disney. 2) FSW, while in increasing numbers of cable systems, has nowhere near the household penetration of any of the ESPNs. 3) FSW is, in most cases, on a digital tier where it's on cable. Putting your games on a network that's not available to mass cable audiences is suicide. If you're MLS, you already have those people. The key is to be available to new audiences. 4) Until the Fox/Comcast pissing match is resolved re: OLN, there is a serious viability question here. If the largest cable company in the US has stated it has a vested interest in not putting your network on the air, you've got problems.

Return to your lives citizens.

Garber on the exclusivity aspect of the deal:
"The MLS agreement is exclusive with ABC. It is not exclusive with ESPN. We do have the opportunity to find a new home for 'MLS ExtraTime'. We are exploring that. We also have the opportunity for other games that we might want to air. We do have some open windows."

As long as it doesn't keep the game from also being on a local channel and from being carried on the Shootout, I say why not? Points 2-4 are true, but if the league can just get in a few extra million homes - particularly if it somehow strengthens SUM in the long run - this is a no-brainer.

I only worry about them taking a game away from a local channel and the MLS fanaticos. But if they just send the signal to another channel and can do it cheaply, more power to them.

Of course, the ultimate would be getting an ExtraTime type show like Garber mentioned last year.

[Mr. Bandwagon]

FWIW, in the San Francisco Bay Area ESPN2 is only available with digital cable, putting it on par with FSW in terms of availability (i.e. not very widespread). In fact FSW is slightly more accessible (FSW is channel 401 - leading off the premium sports channel grouping, while ESPN2 is 412? or something a little harder to remember)

Off the top of my head, I think some of the advantages of having MLS on FSW is having MLS on a network that is decidedly pro-soccer, mixing MLS with the likes of EPL, SPL, La Liga and other leagues, with the hope that they will produce better coverage and news shows (ala MLS ExtraTime), run more stuff live and in prime-time (the Soccer Saturday time-slot is pretty shite), have more knowledgeable on-air talent, provide a little competition with ESPN to help USSF et al's bargaining position, lead to more advertising of MLS over broadcast and basic cable (TV commercials for MLS on FSW), etc. I would also imagine that FSW has a more international footprint and so MLS would begin to creep outside of North America - something that will help build the league in the long run ($$, reputation, transfers, etc.)

[billf]

Here's the problem with this, if FSW gets a Saturday night MLS game it devaules the shootout package. If the game isn't available on the package, then those on cable systems without FSW, lost one of a potential four games. If you have FSW, then why shell out the money for the shootout if you get an extra free game each weekend? Most times you can only watch one game on the package a night anyway. You might not get to choose the match up you want to watch, but it saves $50.

Either way, and I agree that the PPV package is a bargin, an extra free game on FSW increases the cost per match of the PPV package so someone will feel screwed. I wouldn't have been keen on the idea when I didn't have FSW, and I'm still not despite having it.

If MLS did go this route, my suggestion would be a Friday or Sunday night game. That way, the potential audience isn't split amongst the ppv offerings, and it gives ESPN the only free game on Saturdays. On weekends when ESPN doesn't have MLS, then FSW can take that slot.

[counterattack]

1. FSW does have a domestic soccer package. It is A-Leauge, and it started last year.
2. MLS does not have an iron clad deal with ESPN. They pay ESPN to show the games. Like any customer, MLS can get up a leave any time they want.
3. FOX is losing on the NFL, and wants out. What FOX wants is NASCAR all season. If they get it, they will put extra bucks into NASCAR programing on all of their cable networks.
4. I think what Garber, St. Phil, and 'em would really like is an all-soccer channel. MLS, World Cup, A-League, a few select Euro leagues, lots of SA and Mexican games, WUSA, Women's world Cup, Highlights, pay-per-views, the works. That puppy would make some bucks.

[dawgpound2]

Originally posted by counterattack
1. FSW does have a domestic soccer package. It is A-Leauge, and it started last year.
2. MLS does not have an iron clad deal with ESPN. They pay ESPN to show the games. Like any customer, MLS can get up a leave any time they want.
3. FOX is losing on the NFL, and wants out. What FOX wants is NASCAR all season. If they get it, they will put extra bucks into NASCAR programing on all of their cable networks.
4. I think what Garber, St. Phil, and 'em would really like is an all-soccer channel. MLS, World Cup, A-League, a few select Euro leagues, lots of SA and Mexican games, WUSA, Women's world Cup, Highlights, pay-per-views, the works. That puppy would make some bucks.

1-Correct.
2-Dead wrong. ESPN and MLS have a contract. Yes, it's a time buy, but that doesn't mean MLS can take their ball and go home whenever they want.
3-Wrong. FOX won't mind losing money on the NFL as long as shows like Joe Millionaire can be pumped up during the telecasts. FOX has been screaming about the NFL so when the next negotiations come around, they've sufficiently scared off other networks (seems to be working).
4-No real disagreement there.