Major League Soccer on FOX incorporates the series of broadcasts of the league on various national FOX television and cable networks including FOX Broadcasting, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2 and Fox Soccer Plus.

MLS Soccer Sunday

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MLS Soccer Sunday
Presented byJohn Strong (play-by-play)

Alexi Lalas (analyst)

Julie Stewart-Binks (sideline reports)
Country of origin  United States
Production
Running time2.5 hours
Original release
NetworkESPN2, Fox Sports 1 (English)
ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes (Spanish)
Release2015

MLS Soccer Sunday is a presentation of Major League Soccer produced independently by ESPN and Fox Sports Sunday evenings primarily on ESPN2 and Fox Sports 1. Spanish-language simulcasts are broadcast on ESPN Deportes and Fox Deportes.

As part of the new broadcast agreement between Major League Soccer and its network partners,[1] Fox Sports contracted to broadcast 34 weekly matches, primarily on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes in the 7pm Eastern Time Zone broadcast window. The first broadcast on 8 March 2015 was the first match of a doubleheader featuring Sporting Kansas City and the New York Red Bulls.[2] The second match featured Seattle Sounders FC and New England Revolution.[3]

Controversy

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On 19 April 2015, Fox Broadcasting was scheduled to broadcast NASCAR's Food City 500. However, rain persisted throughout the day. FOX decided to maintain its regular Sunday primetime schedule and shifted the race to FS1. Consequently, that evening's telecast of the match between New York City FC (NYCFC) and the Portland Timbers was shifted to Fox Sports 2 (FS2).[4] Unfortunately, FS2 doesn't appear on as many cable systems as FS1. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, FS1 is in 85 million homes; FS2 is in 45 million homes.[5] On many of the cable systems which do carry FS2, it is carried in standard definition rather than high definition.

As a result, the league lifted the nation-wide blackout allowing U.S. subscribers to view the match on the MLS Live digital service.

History

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MLS Saturday on FSC

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MLS Saturday on FSC
Presented byMax Bretos
Christopher Sullivan
Country of origin  United States
Production
Running time2.0-2.5 hours
Original release
NetworkFox Soccer (2003-2011)
Release2003 –
2011

Soccer Night In America

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Soccer Night in America
Presented byJP Dellacamera
Kyle Martino
Eric Wynalda
Christopher Sullivan
Brian Dunseth
Country of origin  United States
Production
Running time2 hours (2.5 hours select games)
Original release
NetworkFox Soccer (2003-2011)
Release2003 –
2011

Soccer Night in America (also known as MLS Saturday/MLS on Fox Soccer) was a weekly presentation of Major League Soccer games on FOX Soccer that began in 2003. In 2007, MLS Saturday started showing a 30 minute pregame and a 30 minute postgame show for each game. From 2005 to 2011, FOX Soccer showed 25 to 30 live games each season, plus 2 to 3 playoff games.

In 2011, MLS on Fox Soccer was rebranded as Soccer Night in America, with its production revamped to provide a viewing experience similar to NFL on Fox.[6] However, Fox was outbid by NBC Sports Network for its MLS package for the 2012-2014 seasons.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Ourand, John; Botta, Christopher (12 May 2014). "MLS' Big Play". Sports Business Journal. Street & Smith's. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  2. ^ "Sporting Kansas City vs New York Red Bulls". MLS Soccer Sunday. Season 2015. Episode 1. 8 March 2015. FOX Sports 1. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Seattle Sounders FC vs New England Revolution". MLS Soccer Sunday. Season 2015. Episode 2. 8 March 2015. FOX Sports 1. {{cite episode}}: Unknown parameter |city= ignored (|location= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "New York City FC vs Portland Timbers". MLS Soccer Sunday. Season 2015. Episode 8. 19 April 2015. Fox Sports 2.
  5. ^ Pierce, Scott D. (21 April 2015). "Fox Sports 2 is an anchor sinking MLS coverage". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  6. ^ Baysinger, Tim (3 May 2011). "Fox Soccer Rebranding its Coverage". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media, LLC. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
  7. ^ Bell, Jack (10 August 2011). "M.L.S. and NBC Sports Announce New TV Deal". New York Times. Retrieved 17 May 2015.

Category:Major League Soccer on television Category:2003 American television series debuts Category:2011 American television series endings Category:2015 American television series debuts Category:2000s American television series Category:2010s American television series Category:Fox Soccer original programming