Fox Soccer Channel, America's premier soccer destination, today announced it has entered into a five-year programming deal with Soccer United Marketing (SUM) that includes live and exclusive English-language rights to a selection of Major League Soccer (MLS), international friendly and U.S. Men and Women's National Team matches through 2010. The cornerstone of the new pact is the return of Fox Soccer Channel's Saturday night MLS Game of the Week, which has aired nationally on the channel since 2003. As part of the agreement, MLS matches will also be telecast by Fox Soccer Channel's sister networks Fox Sports en Español, Fox Sports Latin America and Fox Sports Middle East and Fox Sports Africa.
"We are delighted to extend our partnership with Major League Soccer and the U.S. Soccer Federation," said David Sternberg, executive vice president and general manager of Fox Soccer Channel. "With the growth of MLS, surging rates of participation and record-setting audiences for the recently concluded 2006 FIFA World Cup, interest in soccer in this country is at an all-time high, and this landmark deal will solidify Fox Soccer Channel's status as the sport's pre-eminent U.S. television provider. We will give our viewers the most cutting-edge, in-depth and knowledgeable coverage of MLS and U.S. Soccer matches that they have ever seen."
Fox Soccer Channel kicked off its live coverage of the 2006 MLS season on Saturday, July 29 with a match between the New England Revolution and the Kansas City Wizards. In all, Fox Soccer Channel will telecast 13 regular-season games and three playoff games this season. Beginning in 2007, the network will carry a minimum of 28 exclusive regular-season Saturday match-ups and a minimum of three playoff games yearly through 2010.
"This is an exciting time for soccer in the United States," said Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber. "The popularity of the sport in this country is soaring, and we are thrilled that the highest quality of soccer in this country will be shown on Fox Soccer Channel and its sister networks. Fox has been a first-class partner over the years and we look forward to continuing the strong relationship."
Fox Soccer Channel will also have the rights to three summer international friendly matches organized by SUM each year, starting with next month's FC Barcelona on Tour USA 2006 presented by Cingular which features UEFA Champions League and Spanish League champions FC Barcelona. Barca's contests with Mexico's Chivas de Guadalajara and Club América, and MLS's New York Red Bulls will all air live on Fox Soccer Channel and its sister networks.
The telecast schedule for the FC Barcelona on Tour USA 2006 presented by Cingular matches is as follows:
Schedule of 2006 International Summer Friendlies on Fox Soccer Channel
Day -- Date -- Time -- Match
Sunday, Aug. 6 -- 6:30 PM (ET) -- Barcelona (ESP) vs. Chivas (MEX)
Wednesday, Aug. 9 -- 10:30 PM (ET) -- Barcelona (ESP) vs. Club América (MEX)
Saturday, Aug. 12 -- 7:30 PM (ET) -- Barcelona (ESP) vs. Red Bulls (USA)
The final component of Fox Soccer Channel's deal with SUM is a package of events from the U.S. Soccer Federation. The network will be the exclusive television home for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final from 2006 to 2010, bringing viewers live coverage of the conclusion to the nation's oldest and most prestigious knock-out club soccer tournament. In addition, starting in 2007, Fox Soccer Channel will have exclusive English-language telecast rights to two men's and two women's U.S. National Team matches each year. A schedule of these matches will be available at a later date.
The television component of the agreement will be complemented by additional content rights for Fox Soccer Channel's market-leading Web site, foxsoccer.com on MSN, and its wireless content packages. The parties will also exchange promotional consideration and will work together on sponsorship sales for the SUM programming.
For more information on Fox Soccer Channel's coverage of MLS, international friendlies and U.S. Men and Women's National Team matches, please visit foxsoccer.com.
2006 Major League Soccer Schedule on Fox Soccer Channel
Date -- Time -- Matchup
Saturday July 29 -- 8:30 ET -- New England @ Kansas City
Wednesday, August 9 -- 8:00 ET -- Los Angeles @ Houston - Reliant Stadium
Wednesday, August 16 -- 7:30 ET -- Real Salt Lake @ Columbus
Saturday August 19 -- 7:30 ET -- New York @ Columbus
Sunday, August 27 -- 7:00 ET -- Columbus at New England
Saturday, September, 2 -- 9:00 ET -- Colorado @ Real Salt Lake
Saturday, September, 9 -- 10:00 ET -- FC Dallas @ Chivas USA
Sunday, September, 17 -- 8:30 ET -- Chivas USA @ Houston
Saturday September, 23 -- 7:30 ET -- Kansas City @ New England
Saturday September, 30 -- 8:30 ET -- DC United @ Houston - Tape delay
Saturday October, 7 -- 8:30 ET -- Columbus @ Chicago
Saturday October, 14 -- 10:30 ET -- FC Dallas @ Los Angeles
Sunday, October, 15 -- 7:00 ET -- Real Salt Lake @ Chivas USA
