FOX SOCCER CHANNEL INTRODUCES “MLS SATURDAY ON FSC,”
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER’S FIRST-EVER LIVE THREE-HOUR PROGRAMMING BLOCK
Los Angeles, CA – November 13, 2006 – Fox Soccer Channel today announced its plans to produce and telecast Major League Soccer’s first-ever on-site, three-hour live programming block during the 2007 season.
“This is a huge leap forward for soccer in the United States ,” said David Sternberg, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Fox Soccer Channel. “We are extremely proud to be the first sports network to air a three-hour MLS programming block, complete with pre-game, halftime and post-game analysis, and as the nation’s first and biggest soccer channel we look forward to promoting the continued growth of American professional soccer.”
As part of its exclusive national coverage of “MLS Saturday on FSC,” Fox Soccer Channel will be on-site at MLS venues each week to produce a live pre-game, halftime and post-game show, which will take place at the stadium, allowing for fan interaction. The shows will include player and coach interviews, highlights of other league matches, statistical updates and expert analysis. The post-game show will also involve viewer participation via e-mail, text messaging and telephone call-ins.
Fox Soccer Channel’s lead commentator, Max Bretos , will handle play-by-play action on all games, and will be joined by former MLS player and Fox Soccer Channel color analyst Christopher Sullivan. The 2007 MLS broadcast schedule will encompass 28 weekly games, including eight matches airing in an exclusive time slot, during which no other league games will be played. FSC will also televise at least three MLS playoff games.
FSC’s coverage of MLS will go beyond Saturdays as well. Each week, the networks nightly news program, the Fox Sports World Report, will feature an MLS weekend preview hosted by Bobby McMahon, a Sunday night recap of all the MLS action played that weekend, and a Wednesday “MLS Pulse” segment reviewing the week’s matches, highlights, news and notes. On the Internet, Foxsoccer.com’s Major League Soccer section will feature updated news, highlights, scores and standings, as well as opinion columns and photo galleries.
