When MLS announced their 2011 schedule last week they had not finalized their 1 year extension with Fox Soccer Channel. With that deal being done, today they announced their schedule and the first thing that hit me is that FSC is moving a ton of matches to Friday nights. A brilliant move, considering that their Saturday matches often conflicted with multiple other matches going on around the league. Here is the official Press Release:
MLS and FOX Soccer Extend National Broadcast Rights Agreement
One-year extension includes up to 31 matches
NEW YORK (Friday, February 18, 2011) - Today Major League Soccer and FOX Soccer announced that they have extended the network's national broadcast rights agreement for one year. The premier soccer-only channel in North America will broadcast up to 31 regular-season games, plus three exclusive MLS Cup Playoff matches including a Conference Final - all in high definition. The package includes 15 matches on Saturday nights and 14 on Friday nights; 20 of those 31 broadcast windows are exclusive to FOX Soccer.
"FOX Soccer has been a tremendous partner for MLS for many years and we are very happy that we have been able to extend the relationship," said MLS President Mark Abbott. "Through both its news coverage and its extensive schedule of MLS games, Fox Soccer allows MLS fans across the country to follow their club as well as their rivals."
FOX Soccer schedule this season begins with the MLS Cup Champion Colorado Rapids hosting the Portland Timbers in the expansion club's inaugural MLS match as part of First Kick presented by Dick's Sporting Goods. Other highlights of the FOX Soccer lineup include five games between regional rivals, a clash of the two winningest teams in MLS history (LA Galaxy vs. D.C. United, June 3), and late season conference matchups that are bound to have playoff implications and high tension.
"We're extremely pleased to be home to MLS - the gold standard for soccer in the US - for our ninth straight season," said FOX Soccer Executive Vice President and General Manager David Nathanson. "FOX Soccer is committed to providing soccer fans in America the best coverage possible, and this extension helps us keep that commitment."
FOX Soccer has been a national broadcast partner of MLS since 2003.
see the schedule after the jump:
2011 MLS Broadcast Schedule (FOX Soccer)
Home team listed first; all times Eastern; subject to change
March
Saturday, March 19 Colorado Rapids vs. Portland Timbers 9 p.m.
Friday, March 25* Seattle Sounders FC vs. Houston Dynamo 10 p.m. (excl.)
April
Friday, April 1* Columbus Crew vs. FC Dallas 7:30 p.m. (excl.)
Friday, April 8* FC Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids 9 p.m. (excl.)
Saturday, April 16 Toronto FC vs. D.C. United 7 p.m.
Friday, April 22* Colorado Rapids vs. Seattle Sounders FC 9:30 p.m. (excl.)
Saturday, April 23* LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers 11 p.m. (excl.)
Friday, April 29* Houston Dynamo vs. D.C. United 8:30 p.m. (excl.)
May
Friday, May 6* Portland Timbers vs. Philadelphia Union 10:30 p.m. (excl.)
Saturday, May 14 Real Salt Lake vs. Houston Dynamo 9 p.m.
June
Friday, June 3* LA Galaxy vs. D.C. United 11 p.m. (excl.)
Friday, June 10* New York Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution 8:30 p.m. (excl.)
Saturday, June 11 Seattle Sounders FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 10 p.m.
Friday, June 17* Sporting Kansas City vs. San Jose Earthquakes 8:30 p.m. (excl.)
Saturday, June 25 San Jose Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy 11 p.m. (excl.)
July
Saturday, July 2 D.C. United vs. Philadelphia Union 7 p.m. (excl.)
Saturday, July 9 LA Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 16 Seattle Sounders FC vs. Colorado Rapids 4 p.m. (excl.)
Friday, July 29* Philadelphia Union vs. Colorado Rapids 7:30 p.m. (excl.)
Saturday, July 30 Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. LA Galaxy 7:30 p.m.
August
Friday, August 5* Colorado Rapids vs. Columbus Crew 9:30 p.m. (excl.)
Saturday, August 13 Sporting Kansas City vs. LA Galaxy 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 20 Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 10 p.m.
Saturday, August 27 Chivas USA vs. Real Salt Lake 10:30 p.m. (excl.)
September
Friday, September 9* LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids 11 p.m. (excl.)
Friday, September 16* Portland Timbers vs. New England Revolution 11 p.m. (excl.)
Friday, September 23* Sporting Kansas City vs. Philadelphia Union 8:30 p.m. (excl.)
October
Saturday, October 1* Toronto FC vs. New York Red Bulls 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 15 Seattle Sounders FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes 10:30 p.m. (excl.)
* indicates date change from schedule as originally announced
(excl.) - exclusively broadcast on FOX Soccer.
Yes I like the variety of dates and times, it will be interesting to see if actually changing how they do things will bring them better TV ratings? FSC still struggles from their network being 1/3 the number of homes as ESPN2, and that the HD version of their channel is available to even fewer viewers.
OFF MY SOAPBOX