Chivas, KAZA announce broadcasting deal

Chivas USA of Major League Soccer today announced that it has entered a multi-year broadcast agreement with KAZA Azteca 54, the Los Angeles affiliate of Mexican-owned Azteca América network. Per the agreement, KAZA will broadcast ten Chivas USA games live during the 2008 MLS season, while also airing the popular weekly show 'Somos Chivas USA' on Saturdays. The deal, whose terms were not revealed per club policy, gives Chivas USA one of the most comprehensive local broadcast packages in Major League Soccer, totaling more than 90 hours of local television coverage between Azteca 54 and FSN West & Prime Ticket, the club's English-language broadcast partner.

"Chivas USA is proud to return to Spanish-language television in Southern California with the club's most comprehensive local broadcast package to date," said Chivas USA President and CEO Shawn Hunter. "With its rich tradition in televising the sport of soccer in Mexico and the United States, Azteca is committed to bringing the excitement and passion of Chivas USA soccer to our fans."

The announcement marks the return of Chivas USA to Southern California Spanish-language television, following the club's original broadcast partnership with Azteca América during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Chivas USA's current deal with KAZA represents the largest number of live Spanish-language game broadcasts per season.

Ten of Chivas USA's remaining 22 MLS matches will be broadcast live on Azteca América, starting with the May 31 game against the Columbus Crew at The Home Depot Center, and including an important midsummer match at the Chicago Fire on Aug. 2. For matches being broadcast on Azteca, the weekly 'Somos Chivas USA' will precede the pregame show, making for a full 3-hour gameday broadcast window.

CHIVAS USA ON KAZA AZTECA 54 IN 2008 (*All times PT; All 10 games LIVE):

Bringing the excitement of Chivas USA to viewers will be renowned Mexico-based broadcast personalities Paco González (Play-by-Play) and Carlos Guerrero (Analyst), as well as celebrated 'Somos Chivas USA' Co-Hosts Mara Almada and Antonio Rosique.

Play-by-Play man Paco González has since 1996 covered more than 700 Mexican First Division and Mexican National Team matches as a play-by-play commentator on Azteca América. A native of Guadalajara, Jalisco, González also served as Play-by-Play on Chivas USA's Azteca América broadcasts in 2005 and 2006.

Analyst Carlos Guerrero, who hails from León, Guanajuato, got his start as a Mexican First Division commentator for Mexico's TV Azteca in 2002, while also participating in Azteca's broadcasts of the 2004 European Championships in Portugal and the World Cup 2006 in Germany.

'Somos Chivas USA' Co-Host Mara Almada, best known to Spanish-speaking sports fans in the United States as host of the popular 'Diario Fox Sports' on Fox Sports International, brings her experience as producer and talent on various Mexican and international programs, including 'Tempranito,' 'Fox Sports México,' and 'Con sello de Mujer.'

Antonio Rosique, who like Almada is making his debut as Co-Host of 'Somos Chivas USA' has been a key contributor to TV Azteca's coverage of the Olympic Games, as well as three World Cups, two Pan-American Games, and the finals of the Champions League and the Copa Libertadores, among other events.

Chivas USA heads to Colorado this weekend for a match against the Western Conference leading Rapids, in a match to be broadcast live on FSN Prime Ticket and W Radio 690 live at 6:30 p.m. PT (with pregame shows starting at 6:00 p.m. PT). Chivas USA then returns to The Home Depot Center for a rematch against the Eastern Conference-leading Columbus Crew, who took a 4-3 victory over the Red-and-White on April 12. For information about the match, or to purchase tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1.