Chicago Fire announces television schedule

BRIDGEVIEW, IL - For the first time in team history, Chicago Fire Soccer will have every regular season game carried on television as the club announced its 2007 broadcast schedule today.


The Fire will have 12 games carried locally by Comcast SportsNet, with two games possibly added later, while the remaining games will be divided among Major League Soccer (MLS) national television rights holders - HDNet (6 games), ESPN2 (4), Fox Soccer Channel (4) and Univision's TeleFutura (4). In addition, two games will be available on the MLS Direct Kick package. The Fire kickoff their 10th season on Comcast SportsNet April 7 against New England at TOYOTA PARK.


"We're pleased to partner with Comcast SportsNet once again for our regional broadcasts," said President and CEO John Guppy. "With Comcast SportsNet's involvement, we are able to put together a comprehensive television package that is complemented by our network partners at ESPN, Fox Soccer Channel, HDNet and Univision. We also expect unprecedented coverage with four games on ESPN2's MLS Primetime Thursday."


"Chicago Fire telecasts are an important part of our summer programming line-up and we're excited to be carrying more games than ever before," said James J. Corno, Senior Vice President/General Manager for Comcast SportsNet Chicago.


The Fire's broadcast team will consist of play-by-play announcer Kenn Tomasch (third season), color analyst Kenny Stern (10th season) and sideline reporter Chris Doran (sixth season).


The Fire has also renewed radio agreements with Spanish-language station WRTO 1200 AM and Polish-language station WNVR 1030 AM. Play-by-play announcer Oscar Guzman returns for his fifth season on "La Tremenda" WRTO, joined by color commentator "Batata" DaSilva and sideline reporter Enrique Fernandez. Veteran sportscaster Jacek Zielinski is back for his 10th season as the Polish voice of the Fire.


TELEVISION SCHEDULE (all times CT)

Sat.
April 7
vs. New England Revolution
7:30 p.m.
Comcast SportsNet
Sun.
April 15
at Colorado Rapids
7:00 p.m.
Comcast SportsNet
Sat.
April 21
vs. Kansas City Wizards
7:30 p.m.
HDNet
Sun.
April 29
at Houston Dynamo
6:00 p.m.
Comcast SportsNet
Sun.
May 6
at New England Revolution
4:00 p.m.
Comcast SportsNet (tape delayed-7:00 p.m.)
Sat.
May 12
at Toronto FC
2:30 p.m.
Fox Soccer Channel
Thurs.
May 17
vs. FC Dallas
7:00 p.m.
ESPN2
Thurs.
May 24
at New York Red Bulls
6:00 p.m.
ESPN2
Sun.
May 27
vs. Real Salt Lake
4:00 p.m.
Comcast SportsNet/TeleFutura
Sun.
June 3
vs. Columbus Crew
6:00 p.m.
Comcast SportsNet
Sat.
June 9
vs. Club Deportivo Chivas USA
7:30 p.m.
Fox Soccer Channel
Sat.
June 16
at D.C. United
6:30 p.m.
HDNet
Sun.
July 1
vs. Colorado Rapids
6:00 p.m.
Comcast SportsNet
Wed.
July 4
at Los Angeles Galaxy
9:30 p.m.
Comcast SportsNet/HDNet
Sat.
July 7
vs. Toronto FC
7:30 p.m.
Fox Soccer Channel
Thurs.
July 12
vs. Houston Dynamo
8:00 p.m.
ESPN2
Sun.
July 29
at Toronto FC
2:00 p.m.
TeleFutura
Sat.
Aug. 4
vs. Columbus Crew
7:30 p.m.
HDNet
Sat.
Aug. 18
at Real Salt Lake
8:00 p.m.
Comcast SportsNet
Wed.
Aug. 22
at Kansas City Wizards
7:00 p.m.
MLS Direct Kick
Sat.
Aug. 25
vs. Kansas City Wizards
7:30 p.m.
HDNet
Sat.
Sept. 1
at New York Red Bulls
6:30 p.m.
Comcast SportsNet
Sat.
Sept. 8
at Columbus Crew
6:30 p.m.
MLS Direct Kick
Sat.
Sept. 15
vs. New York Red Bulls
7:30 p.m.
Fox Soccer Channel
Thurs.
Sept. 20
at FC Dallas
7:00 p.m.
ESPN2
Sun.
Sept. 23
vs. D.C. United
2:00 p.m.
TeleFutura
Sat.
Sept. 29
at Club Deportivo Chivas USA
9:30 p.m.
Comcast SportsNet
Sat.
Oct. 6
vs. New England Revolution
7:30 p.m.
Comcast SportsNet
Sat.
Oct. 13
at D.C. United
6:30 p.m.
HDNet/TBA
Sun.
Oct. 21
vs. Los Angeles Galaxy
2:00 p.m.
TeleFutura/TBA