MLS and Fox Soccer Extend National Broadcast Rights Agreement
February 18, 2011 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK (Friday, February 18, 2011) â€" Today Major League Soccer and FOX Soccer announced that they have extended the network's national broadcast rights agreement for one year. The premier soccer-only channel in North America will broadcast up to 31 regular-season games, plus three exclusive MLS Cup Playoff matches including a Conference Final â€" all in high definition. The package includes 15 matches on Saturday nights and 14 on Friday nights; 20 of those 31 broadcast windows are exclusive to FOX Soccer.
"FOX Soccer has been a tremendous partner for MLS for many years and we are very happy that we have been able to extend the relationship," said MLS President Mark Abbott. "Through both its news coverage and its extensive schedule of MLS games, Fox Soccer allows MLS fans across the country to follow their club as well as their rivals."
FOX Soccer schedule this season begins with the MLS Cup Champion Colorado Rapids hosting the Portland Timbers in the expansion club's inaugural MLS match as part of First Kick presented by Dick's Sporting Goods. Other highlights of the FOX Soccer lineup include five games between regional rivals, a clash of the two winningest teams in MLS history (LA Galaxy vs. D.C. United, June 3), and late season conference matchups that are bound to have playoff implications and high tension.
"We're extremely pleased to be home to MLS â€" the gold standard for soccer in the US - for our ninth straight season," said FOX Soccer Executive Vice President and General Manager David Nathanson. "FOX Soccer is committed to providing soccer fans in America the best coverage possible, and this extension helps us keep that commitment."
FOX Soccer has been a national broadcast partner of MLS since 2003.
2011 MLS Broadcast Schedule (FOX Soccer)
Home team listed first; all times Eastern; subject to change
March
Saturday, March 19 Colorado Rapids vs. Portland Timbers 9 p.m.
Friday, March 25* Seattle Sounders FC vs. Houston Dynamo 10 p.m. (excl.)
April
Friday, April 1* Columbus Crew vs. FC Dallas 7:30 p.m. (excl.)
Friday, April 8* FC Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids 9 p.m. (excl.)
Saturday, April 16 Toronto FC vs. D.C. United 7 p.m.
Friday, April 22* Colorado Rapids vs. Seattle Sounders FC 9:30 p.m. (excl.)
Saturday, April 23* LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers 11 p.m. (excl.)
Friday, April 29* Houston Dynamo vs. D.C. United 8:30 p.m. (excl.)
May
Friday, May 6* Portland Timbers vs. Philadelphia Union 10:30 p.m. (excl.)
Saturday, May 14 Real Salt Lake vs. Houston Dynamo 9 p.m.
June
Friday, June 3* LA Galaxy vs. D.C. United 11 p.m. (excl.)
Friday, June 10* New York Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution 8:30 p.m. (excl.)
Saturday, June 11 Seattle Sounders FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 10 p.m.
Friday, June 17* Sporting Kansas City vs. San Jose Earthquakes 8:30 p.m. (excl.)
Saturday, June 25 San Jose Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy 11 p.m. (excl.)
July
Saturday, July 2 D.C. United vs. Philadelphia Union 7 p.m. (excl.)
Saturday, July 9 LA Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 16 Seattle Sounders FC vs. Colorado Rapids 4 p.m. (excl.)
Friday, July 29* Philadelphia Union vs. Colorado Rapids 7:30 p.m. (excl.)
Saturday, July 30 Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. LA Galaxy 7:30 p.m.
August
Friday, August 5* Colorado Rapids vs. Columbus Crew 9:30 p.m. (excl.)
Saturday, August 13 Sporting Kansas City vs. LA Galaxy 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 20 Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 10 p.m.
Saturday, August 27 Chivas USA vs. Real Salt Lake 10:30 p.m. (excl.)
September
Friday, September 9* LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids 11 p.m. (excl.)
Friday, September 16* Portland Timbers vs. New England Revolution 11 p.m. (excl.)
Friday, September 23* Sporting Kansas City vs. Philadelphia Union 8:30 p.m. (excl.)
October
Saturday, October 1* Toronto FC vs. New York Red Bulls 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 15 Seattle Sounders FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes 10:30 p.m. (excl.)
* indicates date change from schedule as originally announced
(excl.) â€" exclusively broadcast on FOX Soccer.
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Major League Soccer Stories from February 18, 2011
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- Chivas USA Beats Vancouver Whitecaps in Preseason Scrimmage at Casa Grande, AZ - Club Deportivo Chivas USA
- Whitecaps FC Fall to Chivas USA 1-0 in Arizona - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Timbers, OYSA Announce New Youth Development and Academy Programs - Portland Timbers
- Red Bulls to Host Soccer Stop South Ward Football Challenge on February 20 - New York Red Bulls
- D.C. United Re-Acquires Brazilian Midfielder Fred - D.C. United
- Timbers Announce Additional National Broadcasts, Changes to Schedule - Portland Timbers
- Whitecaps FC Individual Match Tickets for First Three Matches at Empire Field on Sale Wednesday - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Philadelphia Union Trade Andrew Jacobson to FC Dallas - Philadelphia Union
- FC Dallas Acquires Midfielder Andrew Jacobson - FC Dallas
- Sporting Kansas City Signs Defender Kevin Ellis as Second Home Grown Player in Team History - Sporting Kansas City
- Chicago Fire Sign Uruguayan Forward Diego Cháves - Chicago Fire FC
- D.C. United Tabbed for Four Fox Soccer Channel Broadcasts - D.C. United
- Rapids Featured Seven Times on Fox Soccer Channel in 2011 - Colorado Rapids
- Earthquakes Add Three National Telecasts on Fox Soccer Channel - San Jose Earthquakes
- Fox Soccer to Televise Five Sounders FC Matches - Seattle Sounders FC
- MLS and Fox Soccer Extend National Broadcast Rights Agreement - MLS
- Philadelphia Union Announce Scheduling Changes for 2011 Season - Philadelphia Union
- Three Sporting Kansas City Home Matches to Air on Fox Soccer in 2011 - Sporting Kansas City
- FC Dallas Signs 16-Year-Old Goalkeeper Richard Sanchez - FC Dallas
- Sporting Kansas City Weekly Update - Sporting Kansas City
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