On disnetwork there is a MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL channels. Why no MLS channel? Is it cost, is it that dish network dosen't want to have part of there package? I think MLS should try to get a MLS channel just like the other major league teams have. If it's money, then maybe they should take some of the money there willing to use on NY2 stadium and get the channel on dish network and direct tv.
i think it would be nice to have a MLS channel too.. we can have our own version of charles barkley and shaq about people who make fun of themselves for an hour long show and barely talk about the sport. and then have shows like MLS Tonight which show a lot more play, not just top highlights and break things down and then top 10 "highlights" shows (i.e. top 10 penalty kicks, top 10 corner kicks, goals from outside the box, etc...) and our own version of hard knocks and more pre-game programming. i can see it happening in the next 5 years.
I would rather watch it on a 46" TV then a 19" computer screen and you have to pay for MLSlive.TV. It's not like the only think on the channel would be games, they would have other programming.
I'm not sure the ratings for MLS justify the investment for an MLS only channel. I could (in a probably unrealistic) scenario creating a Fox Soccer/GolTV type channel and use it to pump MLS content, but even then that's a big stretch.
I watch MLSlive.tv on my 55" LED flat screen. I paid $50 for the entire year. Nothing from ATT Uverse is that cheap.
That used to be a valid response... before, you know, you could easily watch things on your TV from the net (in HD if you desire). For a far smaller fee than cable as well. Of course, it may not be cost effective if you watch a ton of other shit on cable too.
I wouldn't oppose a channel, but it not really necessary. As many mention internet is really the future in terms of programming and if MLS struggles to get people to watch its games on NBC Sports how would its own channel that less people have access to fair? Not saying MLS has horrible TV ratings but relative to the big 4, we have a ways to go before we generate the demand for a network
Well I already have dish network, so if there was a MLS channel it would be part of my package, so it's not like I'm paying extra to get it. If I order MLSlive.TV that would be a extra cost, I think most people have dish network, direct TV or some kind of cable provider (paying for TV). So if you're one of those that don't, MLSlive.TV would be the way to go, but you won't get ESPN, NBCSN and Galavison games on MLSlive.TV.
Sorry I guess I should of said channel not network. MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL have a channel on dish network. Show some games, highlights, soccer shows, promote the league etc....
Starting a network is a huge undertaking that requires a significant investment. Drawing viewers is tough because the vast majority either don't have the channel or don't know where it is. For a league like MLS, it's still growing and not yet at the point where it can justify making such a large investment. Just look at Oprah (I hate applying this to soccer), perhaps the most powerful woman in television is struggling to get her network off the ground. Before a network is established, the league will want a second team in New York that draws significant interest. Then they will want the rest of the league to continue to build their following and raise season ticket sales. A network is a logical step for the future, but not one that I can see them making for 5-10 years.
I know it's not exactly the same,but I think a partnership with YouTube for free content (either related or not related to KickTV and with ads) would be an ok route at the moment, possibly doing an occasional interactive game online in connection with other social media and possible prizes or something.
MLB has 30 teams playing 162 game schedules, which works out to be 2400+ games total which can be sown or more likely highlighted on a network, plus a century-plus history to discuss. The playoffs add three weeks or so to a season which stretches March to October. The NBA has 30 teams playing 82 game schedules, which works out to be 1200+ games total which can be shown, highlighted, etc. on a network, plus almost eight decades of history to discuss. The playoffs add another six weeks or so to a season which stretches October-April. The NFL has 32 teams playing 18 game schedules, which works out to be 288 games total which can be shown, highlighted, etc. on a network, plus 46 years in just the Super Bowl era to discuss. The playoffs add 5-6 weeks to a season which stretches from September to December. The NHL has 30 teams playing 82 game seasons, which works out to be 1200+ total games . . . Comparatively speaking, what about what MLS will show on a network will draw enough advertising and sponsorship commercials to generate sustained interest? When MLB etc. show a match, production costs are covered by another entity, as one example (a team for their local market for example). They don't need to cover all costs the way MLS net would. We also lack the kind of year-round cycle of activities to drive programming (drafts in these leagues compared to MLS? We're getting better, just not anywhere close for any time in the near future. I can't see much advantage for the league and its investors at this stage of the game. MLS Live and the (actually quite good) highlight packages on the web site are the way to go for the midterm future IMO.
Yep. As one of the younger fans of the league, I'd love to some video content of the early history of the league. I never really saw it and only know what I read in Dure's book on the league. Would make for good a good online series. The league did AN AMAZING job with the RSL CCL series IMO.
I would LOVE an MLS Channel. One problem for MLS is there are no talking heads shows during the week. Plus, re-runs of MLS playoff games, both the Quakes wins over the Galaxy this year. Plenty of content. This would be tremendous for MLS. Though probably expensive.
Those channels are also available through most Cable providers as well. The channels are owned and operated by their respective leagues. On a side note: whatever happened to the MLS Review show that was on the MLS Website last season???? That was very well done, and could have been packaged for distribution to cable channels or local affiliates of MLS clubs.
Absolutely! And not just on DirecTV and DISH Network, but also on AT&T U-verse and similar-type systems, as well as on all cable systems. Starting from the get-go in 16:9 HD (which in this day and age should be a given), the channel would include a live MLS Game of the Week during the season and subsequent replays of the game throughout the week; daily in-studio news, highlights, interviews and discussion shows focused mainly on MLS and the U.S. National Teams but also on other levels of U.S. soccer (maybe a bit of overseas news as well, although overseas news is already heavily covered on FOX Soccer, FOX Deportes, GolTV, etc. with little MLS coverage); airings of classic MLS games and perhaps even of some original NASL games; soccer documentaries (both previously-aired ones from elsewhere and, eventually, ones made for the channel); and even a weekly soccer-related movie such as (but certainly not limited to) Victory. As a matter of fact, much like how then-newly launched MLB Network kicked off its documentary portion with Ken Burns' Baseball (previously aired on PBS) in 2009, Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of The New York Cosmos can kick off the documentary portion of MLS Network (or MLStv, or whatever else it'll be called). The whole thing is absolutely realistically doable! -G
That's actually a different thing altogether. Those channels are for the MLS Direct Kick Package, which broadcasts all of the league's non-nationally televised games. It's akin to the NFL Sunday Ticket, MLB Extra Innings, NBA League Pass and NHL Center Ice. MLS Network would instead be a single channel ala NFL Network, MLB Network, NBA TV and NHL Network that would likely be included among other channels in the carrier's Sports Tier. -G
I don't think cable/satellite tv will exist in the future unless they go ala carte. But I don't think they have the foresight. Apple or another upstart will make it easy to take anywebsite to your HD screen effortlessly and wirelessly within a year or two I predict. MLS should thus focus on wed based channel that has free content except for live games ( MLS live and in-season games)
MLS should focus on getting their TV numbers up before even thinking about a channel. A channel would definitely bankrupt the league. (Oprah's even having a hard time with her channel) To be frank more American soccer fans prefer other leagues to the MLS and this is going by pure ratings numbers. When MLS's marquee game the MLS Cup only gets a .8 rating and its been pretty much stagnant the past few years, a TV channel is a pipe dream