MLS fans have struggled to find a TV home, with matches relegated to local TV partners. While we appreciate someone televising it, everything about the quality of MLS needs to (and is) improving, and this includes the quality of TV coverage. MLS may have found it’s partner in the NBC Sports family. From the press release:
The partnership calls for 45 MLS games and four U.S. Men’s National Team contests to be televised live across both NBC and NBC Sports Network each season. This marks the first rights deal for the newly-named cable channel that will be re-branded from VERSUS on Jan. 2, 2012…
Each season, NBC will broadcast two regular-season MLS games, two playoff games and two appearances by the U.S. Men’s National Team, marking the first time four MLS matches will be broadcast on English-language network television since 2002. The NBC Sports Network will televise 38 regular-season games, three playoff games and two U.S. Men’s National Team matches. All telecasts on NBC and NBC Sports Network will consist of pre-game and post-game coverage. According to the agreement, the NBC Sports Group obtains digital rights across all platforms and devices for the games it televises.
What do you think? Will the re-branded Versus provide a dedicated home for MLS on TV? Will the quality of announcers and coverage improve? Do you see yourself watching more games?