MLS 2014 TV Thread (Ratings, contracts etc)

Just FYI, ESPN/MLS have stated that they are planning on creating a subscription plan for those who don't have access to WatchESPN to be able to watch the non-network games. I know this doesn't solve the whole problem that MLS live provided, but I believe you will at least be able to subscribe to a plan that will give you access to all the MLS games that are on WatchESPN/ESPN. I believe in the end this will be very similar to what we had with MLS Live minus the spanish game and fox games.

I am concerned about losing the condensed matches from MLS Live. Having that option was extremely nice. That is how I found the time to watch every game each week. I really doubt WatchESPN is going to have that option.

Even though I have access to WatchESPN and will ultimately save money because I won't have to pay the small fee for MLS Live I am pretty bummed also. MLS Live was freaking awesome and I am not confident we will get that level with WatchESPN.

The ability to pause live games...currently WatchESPN doesn't have that.
One thing I used to do with MLS Live is start the game and then immediately pause it. Leave it paused as I did whatever I needed to do then came back to it and played it. This way I didn't have to wait for them to post the whole game on MLS Live. It was really nice if you just needed an hour or two before you could watch the game.

 

I'm just upset about Univision's exclusivity. I don't think their secondary networks have anywhere near the market penetration to rate being sold an exclusive deal. My cable system is based in Cleveland Heights, hardly the sticks, and they didn't carry Galavision until recently. Now they do, but the games have been moved to UniMás, which they don't carry.

Univision's previous agreement allowed local broadcasters to show an English-language version of the game. So if the Crew were on the Spanish-language game, I could still watch it on the local channel. But if this new agreement truly is exclusive, then any Crew fan who can't find a TV that has UniMás is SOL.

------RM

 

Unimas has a bigger penetration than Galavision.

Plus it is over the air in most markets, so you don't even need cable.

Both are bigger than what Fox Soccer channel used to be.

But...

So yes some big holes. (as of 2013)

http://www.lagconfidential.com/2013/3/5/4068306/unimas-availability-leaves-some-mls-fans-in-the-dark

I looked for Unimas households, but can't find it, I remember they are close to 60M, I know NBCSN used to be around 70M when they first signed MLS (I think NBCSN is over 80M now).

I would not be surprised if FS1 is in less house holds than Unimas.

 

Univision's live streaming is pretty good, and I don't think it requires a subscription for most things. They did charge a fee for the quarterfinals and after in the World Cup, but all games before that were free without authentication, which made it easer to use than ESPN's World Cup streaming. I've also watched Mexican games without needing a password, though I can't guarantee anything about what the access policy will be for MLS games.

 

Related, full access to ESPN3/WatchESPN will soon be available for DirecTV customers.

http://deadspin.com/espn3-is-finally-arriving-for-directv-customers-1674662624

 

Thank god!

 

I'm not up on all of their subscription model, but I do know uivision also has a model like other networks where streaming is free if you log-in with your provider.

Also, it's worth remembering univision already had "exclusive" broadcast rights to some games. That didn't mean they were the sole broadcaster or even the only nationally available broadcast.

 

IIRC Univision is having Englsih with the SAP button, so that's something.

 

Fs1 is in 85mill homes. Nbcsn 82mill

 

Well, if it's that kind of "exclusivity", I'm fine. I just want to know that I'm going to be able to see all 34 Columbus games. If I can't watch a certain MLS game each week, I'll be annoyed. But if I can't watch a Crew game in f***in' Ohio, I'm going to be enraged.

The language doesn't bother me a bit. I don't need people telling me what's going on -- I can use my eyes.

Again, what pisses me off is that I never had to worry about this before. Just give MLS 60 bucks and they make sure you can see every single game, maybe not live but you can watch it. Now I'm going to have to keep track of three different providers, just to get fewer features than I had before. (And maybe fewer games.)

------RM

 

I've had DirecTV for 2yrs ..... and I've had ESPN3 the whole time.

 

you probably had ESPN3 through your internet provider. watchESPN is ESPN3+ live ESPN programming.

 

Since this seems to be a general thread for all media rights:

I have been told that MLS Live and ESPN’s digital offering of MLS games will live peacefully together, but the exact arrangement is TBD yet

— Jonathan Tannenwald (@thegoalkeeper) December 29, 2014

Great news. I have free access to ESPN3, but may well spring for MLS Live anyway because of the additional features.

 

If true this would be a nice addition.

 

I'd love to see a tiered approach for MLS Live. I've got access to ESPN3, but getting condensed matches, archives, etc. at a reduced price would be appreciated.

 

We knew MLS Live would still be available for international subscribers, I wonder if that's what he's referring to?

 

This would be great!

 

By international you mean Canada and Mexico? Because those are the only countries outside the US.

 

When it was mentioned it was in the context of Canada. No idea about Mexico.

 

I'm hoping MLS Live will be available to subscribers based in the USA when they are overseas.

 

ESPN did promise that all fans would have access to the MLS streams, whether they had cable or not. Working with MLS to allow MLS Live to continue would be the simplest way to achieve this.

And I gotta believe that MLS would rather not step backwards from MLS Live, and its all-games-in-one-place model with condensed games and archives, if at all possible.

Here's hoping I still have MLS Live in some form come March!

------RM