National broadcast schedule released for Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs

MLSsoccer staff

Major League Soccer has announced the national broadcast schedule for the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs.

For the first time ever all postseason matches will be shown live on national television across the league’s partner networks, ESPN, FS1, Univision Deportes, TSN and RDS. The 2015 MLS Cup will air on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 4 pm ET on ESPN, UniMás, TSN and RDS networks. In addition to the domestic broadcasts, playoff matches will be aired in more than 140 countries around the world.

The Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs features an expanded format with 12 teams qualifying – including bids to the top six teams in points from each conference at the end of the regular season. The top two seeds in each conference will earn first-round byes, while the third and fourth seeds will host the fifth and sixth seeds in single elimination Conference Knockout Round matches. The higher seeded teams will also host the second leg of the two-game, aggregate goal Conference Semifinals and Conference Championships series.

Check out the current MLS regular-season standings

Following the second leg of the Conference Semifinals on Nov. 8, teams will break for FIFA international match dates before returning for Leg 1 of the Conference Championships on Nov. 22.

For more information about the postseason format, please see the MLS Competition Rules and Regulations.

In addition to the playoffs, and as previously announced, MLS and its national broadcast partners this year will work in conjunction to brings fans the most meaningful matches of the final two weeks of the season on national TV.

Flex scheduling for the second-to-last weekend means FS1, ESPN and UniMás four key matches: Orlando City vs. New York City FC (Friday, 7 pm ET, UniMás), San Jose Earthquakes vs. Sporting Kansas City (Friday, 11 pm ET, UniMás), Houston Dynamo vs. Seattle Sounders (Sunday, 5 pm ET, ESPN/ESPN Deportes) and LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers (Sunday, 7 pm ET, FS1/Fox Deportes).

On the last day of the 2015 regular season, Oct. 25, MLS will debut a new, exciting scheduling enhancement – dubbed #DecisionDay – which will feature games across each conference played simultaneously with the key playoff-race games broadcast nationally.

Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs National Broadcast Schedule:

*Subject to change. Note: TSN and RDS networks will air matches involving the Canadian MLS clubs and select additional matches.

Knockout Round
(Conference third seed vs. sixth and fourth seed vs. fifth seed in a single knockout match; Clubs have the option of broadcasting their own Knockout Round match in market on English-language TV.)

Wed., Oct. 28

TBD (UniMás; English-language SAP)
TBD (UniMás; English-language SAP)

Thurs., Oct. 29

TBD (UniMás; English-language SAP)
TBD (UniMás; English-language SAP)

Eastern and Western Conference Semifinals
(Two-game series, aggregate-goal format between Conference first seed vs. lowest advancing seed from Knockout Round and second seed vs. highest seed from Knockout Round)

First Leg – Sunday, Nov. 1