Soccer United Marketing and Univision Communications Inc. announced on Monday that the parties have reached an eight-year agreement that will see Spanish-language networks Univision, TeleFutura and Galavisión cover Major League Soccer games and other international matches hosted by SUM.
Twenty-five MLS matches and 10 U.S. national team games will be broadcast annually through 2014. The league's two marquee events - MLS Cup and the MLS All-Star Game - will also be shown live, while Univision.com and Univision/TeleFutura's top sports shows (Republica Deportiva and Contacto Deportivo) will also include MLS highlights.
"This eight-year partnership with Univision is an important step forward for MLS and soccer in the United States," said SUM CEO and MLS Commissioner Don Garber. "Univision is one of our country's highest-quality broadcasters in any language and its telecasts of our games allow more soccer fans to see our product and follow their favorite teams. Univision's commitment proves that MLS continues to evolve as a bilingual and multi-cultural League, one that welcomes all who love the game."
This isn't the first time that MLS will be aired on Spanish-language television, as Univision held the rights to America's top professional soccer league from its inaugural season in 1996 to 1999.
"Univision, as the number one television network for U.S. Hispanic soccer fans, believes that the future of the sport in this country depends on Hispanic America embracing it at its highest levels here, and we are proud to showcase MLS and the U.S. national team as we collectively realize that new future," said David Downs, president of Univision Sports.
Univision joins ABC/ESPN, HDNet, Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Español as official broadcast partners of MLS. Monday's announcement follows up on the league's new deal with ABC/ESPN that sees those networks paying a rights fee to the league for the first time in its history. That agreement, announced at the 2006 MLS All-Star Game, also runs through 2014. Both include the rights to the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups and 2007 and 2011 FIFA Women's World Cups, as well as the 2009 and 2013 Confederations Cups and 22 additional international competitions.
Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
