FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, January 5th, 2012
NBC SPORTS GROUP KICKS OFF NEW MLS PARTNERSHIP WITH LIVE COVERAGE OF 41 REGULAR-SEASON GAMES IN 2012
NEW YORK – January 5, 2012 –The NBC Sports Group today announced its plans for the 2012 MLS season, the first under the new three-year media rights partnership, by offering live coverage of 41 regular season matches, the most of any MLS broadcast partner, in addition to five MLS Cup playoff games.
NBC begins its live MLS coverage on Sunday, March 11 when FC Dallas host the New York Red Bulls on the new NBC Sports Network, which will air a total of 38 regular-season games this year. The defending MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy make seven appearances on NBC Sports Network, including a rematch of MLS Cup against the Houston Dynamo on May 26. The LA Galaxy’s first appearance is March 31 as they host the New England Revolution. MLS Cup runners-up Houston Dynamo also appear seven times including the unveiling of their new stadium, BBVA Compass Stadium, on May 12 as they host D.C. United.
NBC will broadcast three regular-season games: Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders FC on Sept. 15, New York vs. Chicago Fire on Oct. 6, and Philadelphia Union vs. New York Red Bulls on Oct. 27 – the first game of a tripleheader on the last Saturday of the regular season that includes Chicago Fire vs. D.C. United and Portland Timbers vs. San Jose Earthquakes on NBC Sports Network. The three matches this season on NBC are the most regular-season MLS games on an English-language broadcast network since 2002.
Highlights of 2012 NBC Sports Group MLS Schedule:
- NBC Sports Group broadcasts 41 games, most of any MLS broadcast partner in 2012;
- Three games on NBC are the most regular-season MLS games on an English-language broadcast network since 2002;
- Rematch of MLS Cup on May 26 – Houston Dynamo vs. LA Galaxy on NBC Sports Network;
- Seven games featuring MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy;
- Opening of BBVA Compass Stadium, the new home of the Houston Dynamo, on May 12 on NBC Sports Network.
NBC SPORTS GROUP 2012 MLS SCHEDULE:
Date Away Home Times ET Network
Sun. Mar. 11 New York Dallas 3:00 PM NBCSN
Sun. Mar. 18 Colorado Philadelphia 4:00 PM NBCSN
Fri. Mar. 23 Houston Seattle 10:00 PM NBCSN
Fri. Mar. 30 Dallas D.C. United 7:30 PM NBCSN
Sat. Mar. 31 New England LA Galaxy 11:00 PM NBCSN
Sat. Apr. 14 Columbus Philadelphia 3:30 PM NBCSN
Sat. Apr. 21 Chicago Toronto 3:30 PM NBCSN
Sat. Apr. 28 New England New York 3:30 PM NBCSN
Sat. May 5 Philadelphia Seattle 4:00 PM NBCSN
Sat. May 12 D.C. United Houston 4:30 PM NBCSN
Sat. May 26 LA Galaxy Houston 2:30 PM NBCSN
Sun. May 27 San Jose Sporting KC 4:30 PM NBCSN
Sun. June 17 New York Chicago 5:00 PM NBCSN
Sun. June 24 D.C. United New York 7:00 PM NBCSN
Fri. June 29 Chicago Sporting KC 8:00 PM NBCSN
Sat. July 7 Colorado Seattle 11:00 PM NBCSN
Sat. July 14 LA Galaxy Portland 11:00 PM NBCSN
Wed. July 18 Real Salt Lake Seattle 11:00 PM NBCSN
Sat. July 28 LA Galaxy Dallas 8:00 PM NBCSN
Sun. July 29 New England Philadelphia 7:00 PM NBCSN
Fri. Aug. 3 New York Houston 8:00 PM NBCSN
Sun. Aug. 5 Dallas Portland 7:00 PM NBCSN
Fri. Aug. 10 Houston New York 8:00 PM NBCSN
Wed. Aug. 15 LA Galaxy Columbus 7:00 PM NBCSN
Sun. Aug. 19 Philadelphia D.C. United 5:00 PM NBCSN
Fri. Aug. 24 Real Salt Lake Philadelphia 7:30 PM NBCSN
Sun. Aug. 26 Dallas LA Galaxy 7:00 PM NBCSN
Fri. Aug. 31 Colorado Portland 10:30 PM NBCSN
Sun. Sept. 2 Chivas USA San Jose 9:00 PM NBCSN
Wed. Sept. 5 Portland Colorado 9:00 PM NBCSN
Fri. Sept. 14 Houston Sporting KC 8:30 PM NBCSN
Sat. Sept. 15 Seattle Portland 3:30 PM NBC
Sat. Sept. 22 Portland Real Salt Lake 8:00 PM NBCSN
Fri. Sept. 28 Chicago Sporting KC 8:30 PM NBCSN
Sat. Sept. 29 Seattle Vancouver 9:00 PM NBCSN
Sat. Oct. 6 Chicago New York 3:30 PM NBC
Sat. Oct. 6 Real Salt Lake LA Galaxy 9:00 PM NBCSN
Sat. Oct. 20 Philadelphia Houston 7:30 PM NBCSN
Sat. Oct. 27 New York Philadelphia 1:30 PM NBC
Sat. Oct. 27 D.C. United Chicago 4:00 PM NBCSN
Sat. Oct. 27 San Jose Portland 6:30 PM NBCSN
All games on NBC and NBC Sports Network will consist of pre-game and post-game coverage. The NBC Sports Group will expand upon the successful NBC SportsTalk platform with a Pro SoccerTalk blog that will start with MLS season.
Along with already-established MLS partnerships with five Comcast SportsNets (California, Chicago, Mid-Atlantic, New England and Philadelphia), this new media rights partnership provides the league with coverage across the NBC Sports Group’s unique four-tier portfolio of assets: broadcast network, national cable, regional sports networks and digital.
