This past summer we had the opportunity to experience all 64 games of the 2006 Fifa World Cup in stunning High Definition, thanks to ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2. This was definitely a major improvement in terms of broadcasting soccer in the US. Previously, we were usually limited to one MLS “game of the week” and the occasional Champions League game on ESPN or ESPN2. If you are lucky you had access to FOX Sports World, which shows soccer all the time, mainly from the numerous (and better) European leagues.
I came across an article on ESPN that described the new deal (announced August 5) that they have reached with the MLS to have the rights to broadcast their games. They have agreed to broadcast 26 regular season games on Thursday nights on ESPN2 (about as prime time as it gets) as well as the airing the season opener, the All-Star game, and the MLS Cup on ABC. As an added bonus they will also air live coverage of the MLS SuperDraft (which I’ve always wanted to see). This deal marks the first time that any network has paid for the rights to broadcast MLS games.
Something else that I came across on the UEFA website was a short article inviting bids for the broadcast rights for the 2008 UEFA Euro Championships. I found it interesting that they would have to be advertising it like this. I would have thought that there would be plenty of offers.
