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Thursday, April 12, 2007
Soccer on ESPN: Another Step in the Right Direction
By VictorM: Today marks another important step in the forward progress of professional soccer in the United States. At 10:30 PM Eastern Time, ESPN2 will show the first of what will be a weekly series of Thursday night Major League Soccer (MLS) matches, between the LA Galaxy and Dallas FC.This places ESPN in charge of the telecast and having a monetary interest in advertising the show. Now, besides the obvious benefit of a weekly presence on prime time, ESPN is motivated to promote the game and to take it more seriously. A side benefit, for example, is the drastic reduction of deprecating remarks about the sport by their sportscasters. Also, news segments on the network now cover soccer scores and news with more frequency.
Clearly this is not a silver bullet – not any one thing is. But when considering many of the other developments that have occurred, such as the building of soccer specific stadiums, setting up youth academies, and signing players like Beckham, Blanco, and Reyna, this TV deal is another step in the right direction.
Labels: david beckham, major league soccer, soccer
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I didn't realize that soccer was cast aside in the US, but I guess it doesn't surprise me when you have American Football, Hockey, Baseball, and other popular sports to contend with.
Hoorah for ESPN! Now if only we can get more quality sports on Australian TV.
Hoorah for ESPN! Now if only we can get more quality sports on Australian TV.
Cast aside is putting it mildly. There are many days that I look at USA Today, for example, and their 12+page sports section has zero lines on soccer. So, despite the sports popularity at the youth level, the professional level has a long way to go.
I swaer I commented here previously. No matter.
Vitorm makes a reasonable point. However, if you think about where the sport was in 1992 - only 15 years ago - the progress has been amazing.
ESPN and other TV networks are now paying for the rights to broadcast MLS matches. Soccer still isn't there. Yet. But its growing.
--Ron
Vitorm makes a reasonable point. However, if you think about where the sport was in 1992 - only 15 years ago - the progress has been amazing.
ESPN and other TV networks are now paying for the rights to broadcast MLS matches. Soccer still isn't there. Yet. But its growing.
--Ron
Ron, you did comment here, but I was trying to switch my blog to WordPress at the time. I ran into problems and switched back to Blogger. Lost the comments.
I had replied to your comment.
Yes, I go to Big Soccer (post some but mostly just read).
I'll be at the DC home opener, then drive to NY to see the Red Bulls opener, and then I'll be in KC for KC's home opener.
I had replied to your comment.
Yes, I go to Big Soccer (post some but mostly just read).
I'll be at the DC home opener, then drive to NY to see the Red Bulls opener, and then I'll be in KC for KC's home opener.
Wow, that's some serious fanaticism. Right on! Soccer needs more fans like you here in the states.
I'm a former Quakes fan, and before that, the Cosmos. I'm afraid to support a team - they will fold or be moved.
--Ron
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I'm a former Quakes fan, and before that, the Cosmos. I'm afraid to support a team - they will fold or be moved.
--Ron
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