MLS on NBC

*MLS on NBC*
MLS on NBC
Also known as	Major League Soccer on NBC
Genre	Multi-camera
Running time	180 minutes or until game ends (including commercials)
Production company	NBC Sports
Original release
Network	NBC; NBCSN
Release	March 11, 2012 –; November 30, 2014

The MLS on NBC is the branding used for broadcasts of Major League Soccer (MLS) games produced by NBC Sports, the sports division of the NBC television network in the United States, and broadcast on NBC and NBCSN from 2012 to 2014.

Contract overview

On January 5, 2012, NBC Sports signed a three-year contract with Major League Soccer

Olympics. More specifically as part of the new deal, NBC would carry three regular season and two playoff matches (the first time since 2002 that that many MLS games were to be broadcast on English-language network television), as well as 38 regular season and three playoff matches on sister channel NBCSN; both networks also aired matches featuring the United States men's national soccer team

(with two games airing on each network).

NBC Sports took over the Major League Soccer rights from

GolTV

.

Performance

NBC Sports' ratings for MLS improved greatly due to the increased presence of NBCSN (fueled by their NHL television package), with average ratings for the games jumping 122% for the inaugural season of the contract in 2012. Yet still, several games ranked at or near the bottom of the ratings among sporting event and entertainment telecasts, whereas ESPN's MLS coverage – which was railed by fans as being inferior to NBC's – had higher viewership, attributed to the greater availability of ESPN and ESPN2 nationally.

NBC and NBCSN's MLS telecasts during the 2013 season averaged 115,000 viewers per game, a steep drop from 2012. Looking to capitalize on further soccer opportunities, NBC Sports acquired the rights to the Premier League from Fox Soccer in 2012, in time for the 2013–14 Premier League season. Speculation abounded on if MLS was to be treated by the sports division secondarily to the Premier League, which has a greater U.S. audience than the domestic league, placing MLS' future with NBC in doubt.

In 2014, negotiations broke down between NBC and MLS on a new television contract. The league instead signed an agreement with

ESPN.^[5]

NBC also operates a blog, ProSoccerTalk, which ran news headlines from Major League Soccer and other international soccer leagues. With NBC acquiring the broadcast television rights to the Premier League in 2013, significantly more coverage of the English top-flight was added to the site.

On-air staff

Commentators

Ron Burke – alternate studio host
JP Dellacamera – alternate play-by-play
Brian Dunseth – alternate color commentator
Robbie Earle – alternate color commentator
Robbie Mustoe – alternate color commentator
Brent Harris – alternate studio host
Kyle Martino – lead color commentator
John Strong – lead play-by-play
Russ Thaler – lead studio host

References

^ "NBC Sports Group acquires rights to Major League Soccer". NBC Sports History Page.
^ "NBC networks to air 41 regular-season matches in 2012". MLSSoccer.com. January 5, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
^ Richard Deitsch (August 10, 2011). "MLS, NBC reach deal to air games starting in 2012 season". Sports Illustrated. Time Inc. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
^ Jack Bell (August 10, 2011). "M.L.S. and NBC Sports Announce New TV Deal". The New York Times.
^ "MLS's big play". SportsBusiness Daily. May 12, 2014.

External links

[1] "NBC Sports Group acquires rights to Major League Soccer". NBC Sports History Page.

[2] "NBC networks to air 41 regular-season matches in 2012". MLSSoccer.com. January 5, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2012.

[3] Richard Deitsch (August 10, 2011). "MLS, NBC reach deal to air games starting in 2012 season". Sports Illustrated. Time Inc. Retrieved August 17, 2011.

[4] Jack Bell (August 10, 2011). "M.L.S. and NBC Sports Announce New TV Deal". The New York Times.

[5] "MLS's big play". SportsBusiness Daily. May 12, 2014.

[5]