Article: MLS sells international TV rights to MP & Silva

I've spent most of the last 10 years overseas, and I remember seeing a 2-week old MLS match on ESPN Int'l back in '99. Since then, nothing. Perhaps I've just been in the wrong countries, but does anyone know of countries outside the US and Canada where you can regularly watch MLS games? I thought signing Beckham was hoped to increase the possibility of broadcasting matches overseas, but it doesn't seem there's been much progress in that regard from what I can tell.

 

I have a friend in Australia who usually gets the weekly ESPN game on TV there. Of course it was bumped the week the Rapids were on for the opening game of the NFL season.

 

Niiiice! Great job to MLS!

One question though, I thought these were television rights?

"According to MP & Silva, the company is expected to play a key strategic role in helping MLS to raise its international profile and popularity. MP & Silva will support all MLS-related activities – which will include production, international player recruitment, as well as developing various opportunities with other international soccer clubs."


What do they have to do with international player recruitment? etc.

 

I hope this doesn't mean mlslive.tv is blocked for people outside the US

 

Does this mean that the TV production quality of a typical MLS match will be better?

The Mexican league finals on Telemundo (via Azteca) had a spectacular Super Slo-Mo feature that I think would be a huge advantage in attracting more casual U.S. viewers to the games.

 

InterLiga? We don't play that s**t.

 

This article, as opposed to 'MLS", says it's "SUM & ESPN" selling the international rights, which prsumably means ESPN gets a cut of the pie. It also says it's for an 8-figure sum...which I presume means a minimum of $10M, not a bad chunk of change (especially since it could be for more than $10M).

 

I am sure the MLS Players Union is paying very clo$e attention...

 

It's true, but anyway Interliga is produced and managed by Soccer United Marketing, and so they own its rights.

 

There's been a lot more than that since then, Justin. And maybe it's due to a knock-on effect of the Beckham factor or whatever, but ESPN Int'l in Australia has been showing a lot more MLS -- albeit on same-day tape-delay -- this year than in past years. But even this year's MLS Cup final was on a same-day tape-delay as well.

But seeing the news item this morning, and the words "Asia-Pacific"... well, Christmas just came a few days early for me.

Waiting to see what this means specifically for Australian TV, Foxtel, ESPN Int'l, and whatever else.

 

No, I am pretty sure it will be as half-assed as usual.

In any case, for the Euros, MLS is a midnight league.

But it's still soccer.

 

true, I'm sure there's more than a few of us on BigSoccer who have at one time or another found themselves watching late night broadcasts of Australian League and J-League highlight shows on FSC. Some people will watch any soccer, and I'm sure there are plenty of people like that in other countries.

 

Yes in fact until today all MLS where divided, and so a foreign TV could by some rights from ESPN (as It happened in Italy with Sky TV), some by MLS (i.e. Telefutura games, some from HDtv). Thus MLS was not making that money and it had to negotiate fhe TV for any given country and with different channels in the same country. Impossible to be done for a soccer league.

What MLS was looking for was a general agreement with one partner able to manage and sell the TV rights abroad and they found it, and to help it to boost MLS image abroad.

I've seen MP (which stays for Media Partners) doing some work on Italian Serie A: excellent for the video production; bad for some websites they set up.

I really hope that here in Europe we'll have he chance to see more MLS and a better management of its info. For example, I never understood why Sky aired the Thursday Night at 3am (Italy time) instead of the Telefutura game (9pm on sunday)

 

Mexican production is the best I've ever seen, including the EPL and CL.
Now if it wasn't for all the ads......it would be perfect. Although I'm sure thats how they pay for all that fancy stuff.

 

I'm curious as to how this will actually affect us, the fans. Will we get more coverage, better coverage, the same? I guess that considering this story just came out we will have to sweat it out a few days for the meat and potato's of this deal to surface. It would be nice if I could see more than just thurs. nite games and my wizards games- a weekly roundup show on cable would be nice too

 

International TV rights. As in, not in the U.S. Do our coverage will likely not change.

 

People outside the US watches MLS?

* looks own location *

oh...right.

 

Well, duh.



But here's hoping we get more games over here, and here's how -- we have three Fox Sports channels here, via Foxtel pay-TV. Right now, none of them have shown any MLS games, ever, so all we have is ESPN Int'l airing games in any way, shape or form. Therefore, I'd be hoping that Fox Sports Australia would be using this opportunity to show a couple of games a week, even if it comes from any of its affiliated channels in the U.S. ranging from FSC to any of the regional Fox Sports networks.

That is, should those options become available as a result of this deal.

But in any event, Fox Sports 1, 2 or 3 might be where we see the deal reap the benefits.

 

this is why i have free Dish Network... () So i can watch all MLS games...

Free pr0n is also a plus.

 

I don't think they block it, since it's a pay-to-watch service. I'm Canadian, and I can watch it. I'm sure it's the same anywhere in the world, as long as you pay the subscription.

 

In 2009 mlslive.tv will be a free service