http://publications.socceramerica.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=22573&Nid=32150&p=390942 Not sure most people can see the link or not as it is from the Soccer America website. It is just a short paragraph that basically says that deals with Cadena Tres, TeleVisa, ESPN International and ART, a North African and Middle Eastern distribution company will bring in 2 Million this year. Not sure if this includes Five in England or not. Also says that SUM is working on finalizing deals with broadcasters in Japan and South Korea in the next 45 days.
I always believed the MLS can get more in TV rights fees from overseas than here in the US. By signing a few big name Euro players, they can sell TV rights all over Europe. Also, with Beckham's Asian popularity, TV rights in Asia can bring in millions every year.
What a great news. Now this forces ESPN brass to give MLS more money after 2014 deal expires. By then the league is a lot more stable and could bring in other networks to the fold for the TV rights.
Not really sure how international rights will push up the cost of the domestic rights. I could see how it would increase the overall media bucket. I'm guessing that it will be two completely different packages that they are selling. But overall this is a great step for MLS. It moves them closer to an overall profit. Also, it helps to encourage additional investment in the league. Not only owners, but also sponsors/advertisers.
yea. i figure it ain't just dumb luck that the deal with Japan and South Korea is coming in in the next 45 days, just as Beckham is going to get started.
Latin America + Africa and Middle East = $2 mil a year Europe + Asia + Australia = ? North America = $15-20 mil a year
Now that I think about it, ESPN might have bought the world-wide rights to the games it produces (it is the worldwide leader in sports). Five in England might be purchasing those games from ESPN and not MLS. That could be why they don't show up in the article.
All I'm seeing here is spare change combining with spare change to make spare change. Which games will these stations cover? (do I even need to ask?) The 8-year TV rights deals that seemed great last year no longer does this year.
Yeah - I'm with ya on that - ESPN is the winner here, not MLS - MLS is finally making money on its TV deal, but either should have waited longer for the Becks signing, or smarter yet gone with a much shorter deal of 3-4 years instead of 8
From all I've read, the current rights deal was struck with the understanding that MLS would more aggressively go after big name players (i.e. Beckham). So the signing is already factored into whatever money MLS is getting from ESPN. I am getting the feeling some of you have no idea what you're talking about. But whatever.
With that said, the deal isn't bad at all. Besides, without the deal, we'd still be suffering from games at 4 p.m. on Saturdays, time buying, and a month-long break when College Football season rolls in (right when things started to climax ).
didn't garber say he'd been in talks with cctv (chinese tv's equivalent of bbc)? espn's not standard cable here, but we do get it, and if they have worldwide rights there wouldnt be much for cctv to talk about.