I'm new to the MISL (VERY new). I've seen some of the playoff games on Versus Network. Do they ever show any regular season games on tv? Is there a way to order games online or anything? Just wondering. Thanks.
Welcome to our little part of the world. You would think that they would have games on TV early in the season to encourge attendance but this league doesn't usually do that. I would strongly encourage you to write our Commissioner and ask him. The league itself doesn't stream games. Some have been locally produced on cable and direct TV and last season we had the Versus games as well.
If you have a sportspack on cable/dish/direcTV you should be able to find some games on the comcast sports channels. Detroit and Cali are the ones that I usually find on my TIVO. Some teams are only available local and some have no TV broadcast at all. Hopefully the Versus game of the week will be back. What would really be cool if they could do what the USL did this year and have webcasts available for a charge. IMO the quality was acceptable for the cost and the games are available on demand.
Thanks for the info guys. I'm going to try to follow the MISL this year. Ayo Akinsete, a former Gamecock soccer player who i really liked, is playing for Orlando this year. I'm also intrigued by the fact that Jamar Beasley plays in the MISL. I know this is mostly due to the fact who made some bad choices (partying, etc.). But, I still think it's kind of cool that he's found his niche in the MISL.
There has been some talk of a possible deal with Fox Soccer Channel to broadcast a game of the week, like USL does on Fridays. I would like to see this happen, and will go out of my way to get FSC on my TV to watch the Cougars and MISL games on FSC. I hope the MISL is on national TV every week. That would be great for visibility, attendance, and credibility. Go Cougars!
let's hope it's better than the last deal with FSC. I'll be happy if I get a game one day late then 14 like before.
I was just going to say the same thing, plus I've said before that indoor needs to differentiate itself from outdoor and find its own audience.
Not only that, the rest of the country needs to realize that indoor soccer is MUCH more exciting than outdoor. You're not going to sit & watch a 90 min game with a final score of 1-0 in the MISL.
In Cleveland, neither is on basic cable. I have a digital cable package and I have FSC but no Versus. FSC is on the digital basic package while Versus is on the Plus set-up. Funny thing is FSC is channel 132 while Versus is 126. Also, we get Fox Sports in Espanol in the digital basic package.
Captain & NSL, Both outdoor and indoor can be very exciting and provide plenty of highlights just as they both can be dreadful at times as well. You just prefer one over the other. Myself I enjoy both as I think of them as different games with different skill sets and tactics. The MISL does need to find its own audience but i don't think you get there by bashing the outdoor game. I've never found negative marketing appealing or effective. Just focus on what you do not what the other guy doesn't. regarding FSC or Versus i think either channel is fine although on versus they may get more exposure to potential fans that may not have any preconceptions about the game and find indoor more to their liking.
I don't think the MISL needs to bash outdoor, but it needs to turn a negative perception of outdoor into a positive one for indoor. The people that don't like outdoor soccer because there are few scoring opportunities and even fewer goals, can't use that as a reason to dislike indoor. But if the MISL lumps itself in with outdoor then those people will think "soccer is soccer" and that indoor is also "boring." And while the MISL doesn't have to bash outdoor it should not blend itself into the woodwork by showcasing itself on a basically all-outdoor soccer network.
After more thought I agree that Versus would be a better fit than FSC to attract new fans to the game. Of course if its FSC or nothing -take FSC. I think we are on the same page with what the MISL should be doing to promote the game. I just think by saying outdoor is boring is like an outdoor fan saying indoor requires no skill and as fans of our game we should take the high road. the MISL should focus on as you said that the MISL features high goal scoring and fast play so as to attract the non soccer fan. You just might get a few curious outdoor fans that find its not as bad as they think.
But I'm not all that crazy about a soccer game where the end result resembles that of a football or slo-pitch softball game . Having said that, I do wish there was more indoor soccer on TV. It is very exciting.
Ya. It's kind of like Arena football and regular football. I reguard them as two TOTALLY different sports.
That wouldn't mather to me. I got AT&T U-verse. It is a fearly now TV systom that is just start up and I happen to get both networks. But I agree that I can't understand why Steve Ryan can't get the league a TV deal that will advance the MISL. It could be done with one phone call. heres how it could be done. He could call ESPN ESPN: This is ESPN can I help. Ryan: This is Steve Ryan from the MISL. ESPN: oh, Hi trying to get a TV deal from me again. Ryan: Yeah, I am calling to try and change your mind on this and all I'm asking is a few minutes to say what I have to say. ESPN: Alright I'm listening. Ryan: Ok, Here is how it is ESPN has 2 main drews to bring in the viewers Monday Night Football and Major League Baseball and ESPN is in good shape becouse they have those two drews but you only have a deal with the NFL for only a few years and you know they have started up the NFL network and sooner or later they are going to want to show live games and once there TV deals are up it isn't going to make sence to them to sell the TV rights to another network so that network can make money on it when they can show it themselfs and keep all the Money. ESPN: Sure, Ok that makes sence but we'll still will have Major League Baseball to keep our network alive. Ryan: Yeah, You would think that but will you. Major League Baseball is the most money Hungry League out there. It is only a mather time before the look at the NFL and see all the money they are making and say why are we not doing that and they are going to deside they don't need ESPN eather and once that happen ESPN is going to be in troble for you can't support a network on show Poker and fishing and alot of other things. you are showing. ESPN: Alright, What you are saying does make sence but I would have to ask why would having Indoor Soccer make ESPN in better shape once that happen? Ryan: well, I'm glad you asked. It's rather simple. once that happens the best chance that ESPN has to stay alive as a network is to show the more interesting Minor Leagues sports and lesser known sports leagues and the bottom line is Indoor soccer is a Great Game and of all options you will have there the MISL is the best of all of them and this is the time to be doing this for if you want tell you lose the NFL and Major League Baseball you are going are going to lose your viewers with them and it will be too late to save your network. ESPN: yeah, But you know alot of American look down on Soccer. Would it make a deference in the Long Run. Ryan: I know that is something we have had troble getting past but I can tell you Indoor soccer is a diferent game and it is one they will like if they get a chance to see it and you guys are pritty good at selling what you show and I really trust you could make a real event out of our game. ESPN: alright, You sold me. What do you have in mind? Ryan: Ok, We don't want to push you for much at first. Whatever you are willing to do but if you are good to us we will be there for you once that all go down. ESPN: what would you like then. Ryan: We would like to have a game of the week. We wouldn't cure if it wasn't live but we would love it is you did our Championship game live. Although we would love more but we are willing to settle for that for we know that you are going to want more once everything goes down. ESPN: Alright, That a deal. I'll look forward to get together to get this deal signed and I hope this is a landbreaking deal for your leagues and our network and have a good day. See Steve Ryan that all you have to do and we all be happy.
MISL & Fox Soccer Channel Announce Exclusive Two-Year Broadcast Agreement "Most matches will air live on Fridays during the 8-10:00 p.m. ET broadcast window." http://www.misl.net:16080/news/?cat=1&id=5168
Wow, Did I give the league luck with that last post. Funny things like that happen. Way to go Steve Ryan. Who would of thought he do something right. This truely is a great day for our league to finaly got a real TV deal that makes all the teams strong and now hopefully they will be able to build up the league without worry of lose of teams. and it should be start of a long term partnership with the Fox Soccer Channel to spring onto a even bigger deal in two years to show even more games. That hopefully one day the league can play a larger schedule and hopefully a real Playoffs not those 2 games series or 1 Game Championship where any lucky team can win. Hopefully the league can get back to playing 5 Games Playoff Series and maybe 7 Game Championship series and Hopefully one day the partnership will grow to the point where the view it is the Playoffs and it is more importent and they all should be broadcast.
I was able to watch several games on local sportschannels via DirecTV. Hopefully that will happen again this year. Although I'm a big MLS fan, I am also a MISL fan (I used to go to Cleveland Force games all the time in the 80s --when indoor soccer was BIG), and there's no reason why the two leagues can't have a good working relationship. As for me, I'll be rooting for Tony Meola and the expansion NJ Ironmen.
To explain the joke... MLS = 90 minute game (two 45-minute halves), even though it takes 2 hours from kickoff to final whistle. MISL = 60 minute game (four 15-minute quarters), even though it takes about 2 hours from kickoff to final whistle, sometimes a little more.