August 10, MLS and NBC Sports Group announced a major three-year media rights deal to begin at the start of the 2012 season and spanning broadcast network, national cable, regional sports networks and digital platforms.
The deal is reportedly worth $10 million annually and will mark the end of MLS coverage by Fox Soccer Channel.
Under the terms of the partnership, each season 45 MLS games and four U.S. Men’s National Team games will be televised live across both NBC and NBC Sports Network. This is the first rights deal for the newly-named NBC Sports Network cable channel, which will be re-branded from VERSUS on January 2, 2012.
“Our new partnership with the NBC Sports Group is a significant step forward for Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer,” said MLS Commissioner and Soccer United Marketing CEO Don Garber. “We are excited to be part of NBC’s ambitious plans for soccer, and look forward to reaching a considerable audience on multiple platforms.”
Starting in the 2012 season, NBC will broadcast two regular season MLS games, two playoff games and two appearances by the U.S. Men’s National Team, marking the first time four MLS matches will be broadcast on English-language network television since 2002. The NBC Sports Network will televise 38 regular season games, three playoff games and two U.S. Men’s National Team matches. All telecasts on NBC and NBC Sports Network will consist of pre-game and post-game coverage.
Additionally, the NBC Sports Group has obtained digital rights across all platforms and devices for the games it televises.
“MLS is a perfect fit for our new group, and we are uniquely positioned to help grow soccer in the United States with extensive coverage on NBC Sports Network, significant programming on the broadcast network and our growing digital platforms," said Mark Lazarus, Chairman NBC Sports Group. "Additionally, this agreement complements the partnerships that five of our regional sports networks have with their local MLS teams.”
MLS already has broadcast partnerships with five Comcast SportsNets - California, Chicago, Mid-Atlantic, New England and Philadelphia.
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