MLS Austin FC

The CW Austin, KXAN-TV, KBVO-TV and Austin FC Announce Historic First-Ever English Language Broadcast Partnership

February 2, 2021 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Austin FC News Release


Austin, Texas ‚ - Austin FC today announced its first-ever English language broadcast television partnership with three (3) local television stations owned or operated by Nexstar Inc., including KXAN (NBC Austin), KVBO (MyNetwork TV) and KNVA (The CW Austin). The CW Austin will be designated as the flagship English language television station of Austin FC and will broadcast a majority of Austin FC's regional telecasts. Any remaining regional broadcasts not assigned to The CW Austin will be aired on either NBC Austin (KXAN) or MyNetworkTV (KBVO). Specific channel assignments for the 2021 Major League Soccer (MLS) regular season schedule will be established shortly following the release of the 2021 MLS schedule. Per Club policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

As a result of this landmark agreement between Austin FC and the three (3) television stations, all regionally televised Austin FC regular season matches in 2021 and 2022 will be available, over-the-air, to 100% of the television households in the greater Austin metropolitan viewing area in high-definition. The CW Austin is available over-the-air via a variety of linear television distribution methods, including televisions with a regular or HD antenna, and via cable and satellite providers.

"The depth of HD channel distribution for each of the three English language stations across the Austin region will ensure that 100% of Austin FC fans with televisions will have the opportunity to tune-into 100% of all regionally televised regular season matches," commented Andy Loughnane, Austin FC President.

"We couldn't be more excited to work with the great folks of Austin FC and to broadcast the Austin FC games live in HD to all of central Texas," said Eric Lassberg KXAN Vice President/General Manager. "We are eager to begin building Austin FC as this city's team, while highlighting Austin as a soccer city."

Adrian Healey, announced in 2020 by Austin FC as the Club's English language play-by-play commentator and Executive Director of Broadcast and Content, will lead Austin FC's on-air English language programming. Healey will bring his record-setting MLS experience to Austin FC's English language broadcasts on The CW Austin in partnership with an on-air talent team that will be unveiled in due course. Healey brings over 25 years of broadcast experience at the highest level, both domestically and internationally, to The CW Austin by way of ESPN. At ESPN he commentated on more MLS matches as the lead play-by-play voice than any other broadcaster in ESPN's history. Healey's extensive broadcast experience includes six (6) MLS Cups, three (3) FIFA World Cup Finals, two (2) FIFA Women's World Cup Finals, five (5) UEFA Champions League Finals, three (3) UEFA European Championships, Copa America, and the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

"The CW Austin, KBVO and KXAN are going to be terrific partners for Austin FC," commented Adrian Healey, Austin FC Executive Director of Broadcast and Content, and Austin FC's English language TV play-by-play commentator. "There is so much excitement throughout Austin for Austin FC to start our inaugural season, and now our fans know where they'll be able to tune in to watch our matches in English language. This is another important building block as we head toward our first season, and I cannot wait to start broadcasting our matches with our newest partners."

Full details of Austin FC's inaugural MLS broadcast schedule on The CW Austin (and potentially KXAN/KVBO) will be released shortly, following the release of the 2021 MLS schedule, and will be viewable on AustinFC.com and via Austin FC's social media channels @AustinFC on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Further details related to Austin FC's Spanish language telecasts, including channel assignment and broadcast talent, will be released prior to the start of the 2021 MLS regular season.

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Major League Soccer Stories from February 2, 2021


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