MLS on ESPN

History

On August 4, 2006, ESPN reached a comprehensive multimedia agreement with Soccer United Marketing (SUM) for the rights to Major League Soccer through 2014. As part of the eight-year agreement, ESPN2 televised 26 regular-season and three playoff MLS matches each year, all in primetime on Thursdays.

Highlights of the agreement included:

• ESPN2 airing 26 regular-season MLS matches, primarily on Thursday nights.
• ESPN2 airing three MLS playoff matches.
• ABC airing one regular-season MLS match, the MLS All-Star Game, and MLS Cup. (replaced by ESPN from 2009 to 2017; returned in 2019)
• Televised coverage of the first round of the MLS Draft.
• MLS telecasts re-aired in full or abbreviated versions on any ESPN media platforms
• Extensive footage rights for all ESPN media platforms such as SportsCenter, ESPNEWS, ESPN Motion, ESPN360, etc.
• ESPN producing and being solely responsible for the content, whereas, they had not been able to do that in the past.

Also in 2007, ESPN2's coverage of MLS included new on-screen scoreboards, similar to those used on other sports telecasts. In 2008, another new score graphic was debuted, this time in the upper left hand corner of the screen.

ESPN joined forces with Fox Sports and Univision to broadcast over 100 MLS games (combined), live and exclusive, from 2015 and 2022 in its succeeding media rights deal.

In 2023, MLS moved their inventory of games to MLS Season Pass, and the Fox Sports family. ESPN stopped televising MLS matches for the first time since the league's inception in 1996.

Technology

In addition, ESPN added numerous production enhancements to the telecasts through the years. They included:

• SkyCam: A common element during ESPN's NFL and MLB telecasts, SkyCam returned after making its debut in 2005 on select ABC and ESPN2 telecasts. The device provided an aerial view of the field, giving the viewer a unique angle to appreciate the development and speed of match action.
• MLS Wired: Telecasts featured use of the unobtrusive microphones, worn by select coaches and players, to capture some of the compelling in-game interactions and conversations.
• KickTrax
• HD: Beginning in 2007, all games aired in high-definition.

Criticism

ESPN was accused in 2011 by Soccer America writer Paul Kennedy of putting more emphasis on overall negativity and the more violent aspect of MLS games (such as two confrontations, two challenges and a player nursing a bloody head in its first six shots) in "Greatest Highlights of the Month" segment for their intermission reports.

Personalities

Play-by-play announcers

• Steve Cangialosi (2016–2022)
• Jon Champion (2019–2022)
• Andres Cordero (2021–2022)
• Ian Darke (2010–2011)
• JP Dellacamera (1996–2010)
• Glenn Davis (2002–2022)
• Jack Edwards (2000–2002)
• Kevin Egan (2021–2022)
• Adrian Healey (2011–2022)
• Bob Ley (1996–1997)
• Dave O'Brien (2006–2007)
• Phil Schoen (1996–1999)
• Rob Stone (2002–2011)
• Tyler Terens (2022)
• Jonathan Yardley (2021–2022)
• Jake Zivin (2022)

Color commentators

• Bruce Arena (2006)
• Kyndra de St. Aubin (2021–2022)
• Brian Dunseth (2014–2022)
• Julie Foudy (2007–2009)
• Herculez Gomez (2017–2022)
• John Harkes (2008-2011)
• Danny Higginbotham (2021–2022)
• Kasey Keller (2014–2022)
• Ty Keough (1996–2003)
• Alexi Lalas (1996–2014)
• Lori Lindsey (2021–2022)
• Kyle Martino (2009-2010)
• Shep Messing (2020–2022)
• Alejandro Moreno (2014–2022)
• Ben Olsen (2022)
• Tommy Smyth (2007)
• Taylor Twellman (2010–2022)
• Eric Wynalda (2004–2007)

Sideline reporters

• Cristina Alexander (2022)
• Brandi Chastain (2005–2006)
• Allen Hopkins (2007–2009)
• Lorrie Fair (2004)
• Mónica González (2012–2016)
• Bill McDermott (1996–1997)
• Heather Mitts (2005–2006)
• Veronica Paysse (2002–2003)
• Jillian Sakovits (2022)
• Sebastian Salazar (2018–2022)
• Julie Stewart-Binks (2017)
• Rob Stone (1997–2011)
• Roger Twibell (1996)
• Katie Witham (2016)

Studio hosts

• Max Bretos (2010–2018)
• Adrian Healey (2019–2022)
• Sebastian Salazar – substitute studio host (2017–2020); lead studio host (2021–present)
• Rob Stone (1997–2011)
• Roger Twibell (1996)

Studio analysts

• Brandi Chastain (2005–2006)
• Brian Dunseth – studio analyst (2014–2022)
• Julie Foudy (2007–2009)
• Herculez Gomez – studio analyst (2017–2022)
• Kasey Keller – lead studio analyst (2012–2022)
• Alexi Lalas (1996–2014)
• Alejandro Moreno – lead studio analyst (2014–2022)
• Eric Wynalda (2004–2007)

References

References

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2. (December 7, 2022). "ESPN unlikely to renew MLS TV deal, speculates industry analyst".
3. (December 13, 2022). "MLS on linear TV: FOX Sports, TelevisaUnivision, TSN & RDS reach multi-year deals".
4. Kennedy, Paul. (9 May 2011). "ESPN's 'highlights' disrespect MLS". Soccer America Daily.
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44. Nwulu, Mac. (December 12, 2016). "ESPN Adds Julie Stewart-Binks as Soccer Sideline Reporter". ESPN Press Room.
45. "Rob Stone - Fox Sports Press Pass". Fox Sports.
46. "Katie Witham Bio & Career Accomplishments". Fox Sports.
47. Shrader, John. (May 7, 2024). "Max Bretos on avant-garde MLS broadcasting, young and global fandom, and his Cuban heritage". Soccer America.
48. "Sebastian Salazar - ESPN Press Room U.S.". ESPN Press Room.
49. (November 4, 2017). "WC grad makes soccer his focus at ESPN". Westminster College News.
50. (October 19, 2007). "Rob Stone to serve as new voice of the PBA on ESPN this season". bowlingdigital.com.
51. (March 31, 2005). "MLS Media: Chastain Joins ESPN2 And ABC Sports Telecasts". Sports Business Journal.
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53. (December 21, 2006). "People in sports - Foudy stays with ESPN". The Seattle Times.
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55. (March 1, 2012). "Kasey Keller, former Pilots and Sounders goalkeeper, joins ESPN as analyst". Oregon Live.
56. Galarcep, Ives. (February 5, 2008). "ESPN cuts Wynalda loose". SBI Soccer.