Oldtimer
12-27-2008, 09:35 AM
No TFC news today:
SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE
Unlike other sports leagues, MLS hasn't made any league office cutbacks
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
Sports certainly has gotten its share of hits during the global economic crisis.
In October, the NBA said it would cut its staff by nine percent.
Earlier this month, the NFL was forced to slice its work force by 10 percent.
And just last week, Major League Baseball said it would undergo a hiring and salary freeze and take 20 percent of its employees vacation time in 2009, according to CNBC.
Major League Soccer? So far, nothing -- which is good news.
Sometimes less can be more.http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/sections/mls2.php?article_id=17004
An above-average article realizing that if US coverage of EPL is growing, it actually benefits MLS (something we realize here in Canada). If ESPN took up the EPL in a big way, it would help MLS. The article also contrasts production values in Europe and in the U.S.:
Why does soccer, European, American, or otherwise, not find the same scope of coverage on American television as other major sports?
The simple answer would be to accept that the sport is simply not as popular as its three major competitors. Analysis of the Nielsen viewing numbers may offer insight into the phenomenon and answer the question: Are people watching?
Perhaps they are not, and the lack of interest in America for the world’s most popular game is related to our own consumption of sports in this country. Are Americans simply used to watching the “big three”, just as the major networks are used to broadcasting them?
Or perhaps there is, in fact, a contingent of Americans, combined with Europeans living in America, who are willing and waiting to mass-consume world football as a marketable, elite sport.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/97026-espn-and-the-epl-the-answer-for-soccer-in-america
Most important quote:
In short, while ESPN has the dedicated money to producing visually attractive soccer in high-definition, with many cameras and original commentary, it fails by trying to present the MLS as an American sport, instead of embracing the successful elements in English and European leagues.
SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE
Unlike other sports leagues, MLS hasn't made any league office cutbacks
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
Sports certainly has gotten its share of hits during the global economic crisis.
In October, the NBA said it would cut its staff by nine percent.
Earlier this month, the NFL was forced to slice its work force by 10 percent.
And just last week, Major League Baseball said it would undergo a hiring and salary freeze and take 20 percent of its employees vacation time in 2009, according to CNBC.
Major League Soccer? So far, nothing -- which is good news.
Sometimes less can be more.http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/sections/mls2.php?article_id=17004
An above-average article realizing that if US coverage of EPL is growing, it actually benefits MLS (something we realize here in Canada). If ESPN took up the EPL in a big way, it would help MLS. The article also contrasts production values in Europe and in the U.S.:
Why does soccer, European, American, or otherwise, not find the same scope of coverage on American television as other major sports?
The simple answer would be to accept that the sport is simply not as popular as its three major competitors. Analysis of the Nielsen viewing numbers may offer insight into the phenomenon and answer the question: Are people watching?
Perhaps they are not, and the lack of interest in America for the world’s most popular game is related to our own consumption of sports in this country. Are Americans simply used to watching the “big three”, just as the major networks are used to broadcasting them?
Or perhaps there is, in fact, a contingent of Americans, combined with Europeans living in America, who are willing and waiting to mass-consume world football as a marketable, elite sport.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/97026-espn-and-the-epl-the-answer-for-soccer-in-america
Most important quote:
In short, while ESPN has the dedicated money to producing visually attractive soccer in high-definition, with many cameras and original commentary, it fails by trying to present the MLS as an American sport, instead of embracing the successful elements in English and European leagues.