Well, remember that ESPN is still in the mix. I doubt that they would give up MLS' two showcase games. Those 2 games on NBC will probably be a first kick game and/or a NYRB/LAG match-up. Edit: here you go, from Goff:
Just on Twitter: 2 MLS Regular Season, 2 MLS Playoffs, and 2 USMNT Games to be broadcast on NBC proper in 2012.
Yep, similar info here: http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/...ce-new-tv-deal/?smid=tw-nytimesgoal&seid=auto
Also, far more likely to be able to watch Versus (I know!) in hotels than FSC. I travel fairly regularly and have NEVER stayed in a hotel that had FSC but lots have Versus. I know that's not a huge deal for MLS, but it matters. To me.
I wonder if this will also lead to Telemundo showing MLS games? Also, we can hope for mention on 30 Rock, which often references what NBC is doing.
As the world teeters and my job shows me horrors that few of you can comprehend and imagine... ...let's hope we see the fruition of this. This is as big of a deal as when Addidas signed on to back the league. Signature moment. FSC never gave a s**t about MLS. It was filler and they had to be forced into even paying for any of it...very reluctantly I might add...and not very much. One of my first posts here was to point out that if MLS was ever to grow nationally/TV audience/rev wise then FSC had to become an afterthought. FSC was the enemy and their execs treated MLS with scorn for the most part. Wonderful news. Momentous day for the league. Congrats to Garber and MLS. Big middle finger to FSC and every American who is so entrenched in the dogma of far left or far right. May you all burn. Thank you.
MLS should be so fortunate to be as destroyed by NBC as the Olympics. I'm not a big fan of all the schlock on NBC's coverage and I loathe the way they refuse to show events in real time in today's information overloaded age, but if NBC puts a fraction of the resources into MLS that it puts into the Olympics, MLS is a big winner. Let's face it, no matter who NBC hires to do soccer, it'll be an upgrade over the FSC clowns like Kneepads Miles and Mark "hey, have I mentioned I played goalie at San Diego State" Grogandino. NBC's involvement should see the production quality go up dramatically.
What a nice way to start what promises to be an interesting day in US Soccer-land (welcome, Jurgen!). Nice to have something so long rumored come to fruition, and I can't wait to see what sort of broadcast team they assemble. Hopefully there's a really good producer in the mix too, and a soccer-experienced team in the truck. Me too. It's odd to juggle work travel based in part on the FSC broadcast schedule, but such is life sometimes. This is funny. Careful, though, we may not like what they say.
Also, nice to know I can support MLS without supporting Rupert Murdoch. (Yeah, I'll still watch international soccer and the college ball on FSC.) But as scummy as NewsCorp is, it's nice MLS has less to do with them now. PS - I hope NBC hires Eric Wynalda.
NBC also just announced they are reuniting Andres Cantor with Alexi Lalas to do their MLS broadcasts. They liked how it worked out so well back in the day. Really tho, great job by The Don!
It's ironic that FSC will be out, as it seems they have just gotten their broadcast personalities right - the studio teams and the PBP/color, even sideline reporting, has been much better this year. Oh, well, onward and hopefully upward.
There was a time (in '98 and I think '99) when ABC carried about six regular season games plus the All-Star and MLS Cup games over a single season.
While I share your opinion of that "scumbag" Murdoch, and he is folks, he is a scumbag, I throw him in with the "enlightened and educated superior intellects" of the CNBC types. I repeat...may they both burn.