Major League Soccer (MLS) Commissioner Don Garber announced today the details of an innovative five-year broadcast arrangement that includes the television rights of Major League Soccer and the FIFA World Cup Tournaments for the next five years.
Also announced today is an agreement with the ABC and ESPN Networks to be the broadcast home for these premier soccer properties through 2006.
Included in the package are the FIFA Men’s World Cup for 2002 and 2006, the 2002-2006 MLS Seasons and the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
MLS has purchased the English-language television rights in the United States for the next two FIFA World Cups (Japan/Korea 2002 and Germany 2006) from the Kirch Group, and will produce, package and sell the programming. The groundbreaking arrangement also includes the English-language domestic television rights to the 2003 Women’s World Cup to be held in China.
‘This is a landmark agreement that combines the most valuable soccer programming in America, the World Cup and Major League Soccer,’ Commissioner Garber said. ‘This arrangement provides the opportunity for cross-marketing, promotion, sales integration and strategic scheduling. It also allows us to strategically integrate Major League Soccer and its players with the most watched soccer programming on English language television in America. We are pleased to continue our partnership with ABC and ESPN, America’s soccer network, and look forward to growing the sport together on television,’ he added.
A new company has been formed by MLS investors to manage sales, service and broadcast production for the World Cup properties. Additionally, the new company has purchased the MLS broadcast and sponsorship rights through 2006. To date, Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), The Hunt Sports Group and Dentsu, Inc. will participate as investors with new investors expected to be added in the future. The soon to be named company will be headed by MLS Commissioner Don Garber, in addition to his responsibilities as Major League Soccer’s chief executive.
‘The vision of this new company is to be one of the premier soccer organizations in the world,’ AEG President Tim Leiweke said. ‘In the near future, we intend to add to this portfolio to include other soccer-related programming and marketing rights.’ Hunt Sports President John Wagner, added, ‘soccer in America continues to need integration and strategic management. This new company is the first step towards that goal.’
‘Soccer has been an important part of ABC Sports’ long tradition, so it is gratifying that the next three World Cups and MLS will continue to be an important part of our schedule,’ says ABC Sports President, Howard Katz. ‘We look forward to the future with our partners, ESPN and Major League Soccer.’
‘We are pleased to bring the next three FIFA World Cup events and Major League Soccer, America’s premier league in a global sport, to soccer fans for the next several years,’ ESPN President George Bodenheimer said. ‘The World Cup is a premiere sports competition and this agreement continues our tradition of presenting the best sports to fans.’
World Cup Korea/Japan 2002, World Cup Germany 2006 and the 2003 Women’s World Cup on ABC and ESPN
Showcasing a number of MLS stars including Clint Mathis, Landon Donovan and Jeff Agoos, the United States National Team will play Portugal, South Korea and Poland in the opening round of the 2002 Men’s World Cup. The 32-team tournament will take place May 31 to June 30, 2002 in South Korea and Japan.
All 2002 World Cup matches will be televised with 17 matches live on ESPN, 46 live on ESPN2 and a minimum of 9 on ABC Sports, including the live telecast of the title match from Yokohama, Japan, Sunday, June 30 at 7 a.m. ESPN and ESPN2 will re-air at least 9 of the live telecasts later in the day.
ESPN/ESPN2 will also feature all U.S. Men’s National Team first round matches from South Korea beginning with U.S. versus Portugal Wednesday, June 5 at 5 a.m. (ET); against home team South Korea Monday, June 10 at 2:30 a.m. (ET); and against Poland Friday, June 14 at 7:30 a.m. (ET).
In addition to World Cup Korea/Japan 2002, ABC and ESPN will televise the Women’s World Cup China 2003, featuring the defending champion U.S. Women’s Team, and the 2006 Men’s World Cup in Germany. Women’s World Cup 2003 will feature the championship match live on ABC and additional games on the ESPN networks. World Cup Germany 2006 will feature a minimum of 12 matches live on ABC and additional games broadcast live on the ESPN networks.
The Men’s World Cup continues to be the world’s most-watched sporting event, as the total television audience of the 64 matches at World Cup France 1998 was estimated to be 37 billion viewers, averaging 578 million viewers per game. Two billion people watched the final between France and Brazil live, roughly one of three people in the world.
The 1999 Women’s World Cup final which saw the United States defeat China on penalty kicks was the highest-rated soccer match ever on U.S. network television. The U.S. and China will renew their rivalry in China at the fourth Women’s World Cup from September 28 to October 16, 2003.
MLS matches will be broadcast on ABC and the ESPN networks for the next five seasons
Major League Soccer’s network broadcast schedule will feature an increase in games shown on ABC, with a minimum of three matches per season during the five-year agreement. The 2002 MLS season will include the MLS Cup, the MLS All-Star Game and an opening weekend match televised live on ABC. Other matches will be determined.
In addition, 26 MLS matches will be televised on ESPN2 during the 2002 season. The popular ‘Soccer Saturday’ theme returns with 22 Saturday afternoon matches at 4 p.m. ET, enabling ESPN2’s 82 million homes to watch their favorite MLS team and players in action in a consistent weekly time slot. The additional four MLS games will be broadcast on Thursday evenings in primetime on ESPN2.
New company to be formed by MLS investors to market properties
The new company will immediately begin selling World Cup and MLS packages for the 2002 season and beyond. The company will utilize internal sales resources at MLS as well as sales representation agreements with some of the leading sports sales companies in the industry, including Momentum Worldwide, headed by C.E.O. Harlan Stone; Envision, a division of Anschutz Entertainment Group, headed by Jeff Knapple and ex-ISL executive Chris Renner; and Dentsu, Inc., and a variety of their subsidiary companies in the U.S. and Japan.
With the new agreement, MLS and ABC/ESPN have formed a unique partnership in the areas of television production and sales. The two groups will work together to produce the World Cup matches while MLS will oversee advertising and sponsorship sales for the entire soccer package.
ABC and the ESPN networks televised the 1994 and 1998 Men’s World Cups and the 1995 and 1999 Women’s World Cups. All six MLS seasons, including every MLS Cup championship match, have been televised on ABC and the ESPN networks. The combined networks – ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC Sports – present the most comprehensive soccer coverage in the United States, including the Men’s and Women’s World Cup, Major League Soccer, U.S. National Team matches and the NCAA Men’s and Women’s soccer championships.
For further information please contact:
MLS
Press Office
Tel: +1 212 450 1200
Fax: +1 212 450 1300