MLS to NBC. HUGE DEAL!

[kodiakTFC]

MLS signed a three year broadcasting deal with NBC.

The deal takes effect with the '12 MLS season. NBC picked up the package that currently is with Fox Soccer. Deal terms have 45 MLS games and four U.S. men's national soccer team games carried live on NBC and Versus, which will be renamed NBC Sports Network in January. "This is clearly another great moment for the sport of American soccer," MLS Commissioner Don Garber told THE DAILY. "NBC has a larger audience and a greater variety of platforms, with network, cable and digital." The deal runs through '14, which is when the ESPN and Univision media deals with MLS end. At that point, MLS most likely would go to market with two packages -- one English and one Spanish -- rather than three. Deal terms will have NBC broadcast two regular-season MLS games, two playoff games and two U.S. national team appearances. NBC's cable channel will carry 38 regular-season games, three playoff games and the other two national team matches. NBC picks up all digital rights to these games.

NHL RELATIONSHIP INFLUENCED DEAL: Garber said he was attracted by NBC's history of promoting properties, specifically pointing to the network's relationship with the NHL. "I've watched with envy what NBC has done for the NHL," he said. "We hope NBC can do for soccer what they've been able to do for hockey." Garber praised Fox Soccer, saying it has "turned into a much more professionally produced cable network" under Nathanson. But he said he could not pass up the added reach that Versus (76 million homes) has over Fox Soccer (39 million homes).

Important Points:
- ESPN pays 8 million, Univision pays 8 million and FSC pays 6.25 (Now NBC is paying between 10-12 million) a season. All three deals are up after the 2014 season, this is when MLS plans to negotiate bigger deals.

-Coverage has nearly doubled from 39 to 76 million homes.

-NBC Sports/Versus is reknowned for its excellent promotion of its products, ie. its job with the NHL.

-Last year Fox paid 3 million, next year they're gettign 10-12 for the same deal!

-More games televised.

-6 nationally broadcasted games on network, this year theres 0.

[Pookie]

Who needs NBC when you have GolTV in Standard Definition???

Bigger question, if there is a game involving the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers that runs late, are they going to interrupt coverage to show the MLS Cup?

[kodiakTFC]

Who needs NBC when you have GolTV in Standard Definition???

Bigger question, if there is a game involving the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers that runs late, are they going to interrupt coverage to show the MLS Cup?

Well NBC Sports doesn't have baseball so impossible! They do however have NHL and Tour De France, so American MLS viewers can expect having early season games bumped for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

[Ossington Mental Youth]

big deal for them, doesnt change shit for us.

[kodiakTFC]

big deal for them, doesnt change shit for us.

Very wrong. A more prosperous league can only mean good things for us as well. This deal will likely usher in a massive deal in 3 years which will greatly affect the cba that is up for deliberation that year, the salary cap would likely double-triple.

This is a major step in Garber's proposed plan to make MLS a top tier league by 2022.

[mastermixer]

Interesting... I heard ratings for MLS games in the US were down a lot. Hopefully this gets people watching again.

[MartinUtd]

big deal for them, doesnt change shit for us.

It could mean a better deal for the players after the next CBA which in turn should raise the average quality on the pitch.

Then again, I've never been a big supporter of tickle down theories.

[Ossington Mental Youth]

Very wrong. A more prosperous league can only mean good things for us as well. This deal will likely usher in a massive deal in 3 years which will greatly affect the cba that is up for deliberation that year, the salary cap would likely double-triple.

This is a major step in Garber's proposed plan to make MLS a top tier league by 2022.

im talking about tv coverage wise

[nobodybeatsthewiz]

This is a major step in Garber's proposed plan to make MLS a top tier league by 2022.

[RPB_RED_NATION_RPB]

Ok... Garber...Now Raise the CAP!!!!!....

[Yohan]

Ok... Garber...Now Raise the CAP!!!!!....

unlikely...

[TOBOR !]

I've watched with envy what NBC has done for the NHL

eh ?

[canadian_bhoy]

So....basically MLS will be on Gol TV, ESPN 8 (the ocho) and VS (NBC).

I remember when MLS was on ABC on Saturday mornings. Wasn't really a big deal.

(cynic......)

pffft. Wiz, no more Chernobyl.

[TFC07]

Congrats MLS!

[TFC USA]

BREAKING NEWS: MLS on NBC to air at 12:35 AM ET on delay, after Leno.

[kodiakTFC]

Awesome reference and I agree with the underlying point to but everybody needs a goal!

[nfitz]

BREAKING NEWS: MLS on NBC to air at 12:35 AM ET on delay, after Leno.

What ... and pre-empt Late Night? 1:35 AM please ...

[Alixir]

Very wrong. A more prosperous league can only mean good things for us as well.

exactly now even more people can watch our team embarrass themselves on national TV....but then again NBC is American so the chances of them televising a TFC match are probably pretty low....I would say very low.

[__wowza]

What ... and pre-empt Late Night? 1:35 AM please ...

and pre-empt last call with carson daly?

[TFC Via Buffalo]

Then again, I've never been a big supporter of tickle down theories.

I, on the other hand, am all for tickling down regardless if theory or fact.

[__wowza]

It could mean a better deal for the players after the next CBA which in turn should raise the average quality on the pitch.

Then again, I've never been a big supporter of tickle down theories.

i wholeheartedly have to agree. the leagues salary expansion suggests that the wages are adjusted well above inflation. with a new deal in place for television coverage, it might just put pressure on the league to continue expanding in order to increase the quality of play.

[TFC USA]

It could mean a better deal for the players after the next CBA which in turn should raise the average quality on the pitch.

Then again, I've never been a big supporter of tickle down theories.

I tried the tickle down theory once. She broke up with me after that.

[prizby]

so with the increase in money, we will see an increase in salary cap right...nearly $30 mil in TV rev is = $1.5 mil salary cap per team

[Detroit_TFC]

so with the increase in money, we will see an increase in salary cap right...nearly $30 mil in TV rev is = $1.5 mil salary cap per team

Over 3 yrs.

[prizby]

Over 3 yrs.

i was talking about 30 mil a year between univision, espn, nbc (and tsn and other local stations)

[Yohan]

didn't the new CBA say the cap is going up like 150k per year or something already? I don't know if the MLS FO wants to up the cap too much...

[Shakes McQueen]

This is a huge deal for MLS as a whole, though it won't immediately impact our own television situation.

- Scott

[TFCRegina]

didn't the new CBA say the cap is going up like 150k per year or something already? I don't know if the MLS FO wants to up the cap too much...

By 2014, it's supposed to be somewhere around 5 million US.

It will have surpassed the CFL in cap terms by that point and there's fewer players on MLS rosters - should indicate that player wages are going to improve significantly.

[Pookie]

The "cap" is more of a guidance.

It appears that only the base salary counts and there are any number of ways to circumvent it beyond the established DP rule.

It's why some players make $450k in comp but only $335k counts without a DP tag. Teams with the means can spend. You think LA is really living under the rule of a hard cap?

[babone]

Since our networks kinda follow the US lead, wonder what this mean for the the right to footy in Canada