I think their would be a lot of interest to do this from the USSF, if for no other reason than to avoid WCQ away games on PPV. I don't see why Canada would have a problem with it. The other Feds besides Mexico seem to sell them to Traffic now anyways for what can't be more than a small pittance. The only Fed that might have a problem with it is Mexico because they make bank off their home games now. But my argument to them would be to imagine the bidding war for all of Mexico's WCQ between Telemundo and Univision. Right now Univision gets the home and US away games while Telemundo has worked out a deal with Traffic to get the away games. They both have enough to meet their demand. If one network had exclusitivity I could imagine that price being VERY VERY beneficial to the Mexican fed and as a result the rest of the CONCACAF feds. Agree, Disagree?
Unless SUM was put in charge of the marketing of the rights, I can't see the USSF giving up control to Concacaf. It would almost definitely mean less money for the USSF even if it avoids PPV and keeps all US games on mainstream networks in both languages. Any such deal would likely only mean more money for the smaller feds and less for USA and Mexico, which would kill this from the start. Any deal which would not equal more money for the smaller feds would not be approved by them.
While I would love to never have another US game shown only on PPV putting Concacaf in charge of rights would be a disaster. I'm sure we can all envision a scenario where the rights are put under Concacaf control and the next Jack Warner/Chuck Blazer makes the situation much worse. I can easily imagine the new corrupt leader setting up his own pathetic TV company then selling the rights to that company and forcing ESPN/NBC Sports/Univision to deal with that company at a ridiculous fee only for all of the games to end up on PPV. I just think that no matter what was agreed upon in writing between US Soccer and Concacaf those corrupt leaders would find a way around it and Blatter/next corrupt FIFA leader would just shrug his shoulders.
No need to pool rights, especially in a confederation such as CONCACAF when two giants dominate over 20 minnows. Pooling rights probably won't bring in more money for everyone. The only TV outfits that are willing to pay the big bucks are the ones in the U.S. i.e. Univision and Telemundo (with MundoFOX waiting in the wings.) Let the two feds swap 2nd party rights, with cash or a friendly or 2 on U.S. soil thrown in to make the trade equitable. Not exactly rocket science. US Soccer was able to pull this off for 2004-2005 with every one else. Q: Why wasn't US soccer able to do the same with Honduras in 2009 or Guatemala in 2012? A: Imagina a.k.a. MediaWorld a.k.a. MEDIAPRO
so if MediaPro is going to force itself in as the middle man what can be done to prevent it? I figured the Feds could work this out amongst themselves, but if MediaPro is going to continue to do this what can the USSF do? That is an excellent point about CONCACAF and i agree it would be unsettling to have some of these shady individuals in charge of the US tv rights. My thought process was simply that the bidding war for exclusive WCQ Mexican rights b/t Telemundo and Univision would make everyone more money. Even a bidding war, although it would be no where near the amount the Mexican rights would bring in, b/t ESPN and NBC Sports for the US WCQ would also generate more funds than what is currently paid out.