Fox Soccer Channel Acquires Exclusive Television

Rights to USL Matches through 2009 Season;

2007 USL on Fox Soccer Channel Schedule Announced

TAMPA, FL — Monday, April 9, 2007 — United Soccer Leagues and Fox Soccer Channel announced that Fox Soccer Channel has acquired the exclusive English-language television rights to select Friday night USL First Division matches and all USL League Championship games, a projected 27-game schedule annually, through the 2009 season. The deal also includes the broadband and mobile rights for USL on FSC matches.

“We are excited to announce the continuation of our presence on Fox Soccer Channel,” said USL Executive Vice President and COO Tim Holt. “Fox Soccer Channel has become the destination for soccer viewing in North America over the past few years and it is only natural that it is home to our weekly national telecasts.”

The new partnership continues a long-term relationship between USL and Fox Soccer Channel following the conclusion of their recent five-year deal. USL broadcasts will also be available on Fox Soccer Channel sister networks Fox Sports en Español, Fox Sports World Canada and Fox Sports Middle East/Africa.

“We are thrilled to be the exclusive national television partner of the USL,” said David Sternberg, executive vice president and general manager of Fox Soccer Channel. “The perfect complement to our lineup of the most important international and domestic soccer leagues and tournaments, USL matches have proven to be entertaining action over the past five years and we look forward to giving their diverse community of fans and our loyal viewers three more years of live USL games on America ’s soccer network.”

The 2007 USL on Fox Soccer Channel broadcast schedule kicks off on the second week of the USL season with the first of 24 weekly USL First Division matches, the largest schedule of nationally televised matches in USL First Division history. The USL-1 television schedule includes the second legs of a quarterfinal playoff series and a semifinal playoff series. It comes to a close with the USL First Division Championship Saturday, September 29.

Other live match broadcasts will include the W-League Championship on Sunday, August 5; the PDL Championship on Saturday, August 11; and the USL Second Division Championship on Saturday, August 25.

Additional shows include three episodes of USL Breakaway, a behind-the-scenes feature and highlights show that debuted in 2006. USL Breakaway will air three times during the months of June, July and September; exact telecast details will be announced at a later date.

Highlights of the USL First Division portion of the USL on Fox Soccer Channel broadcast schedule includes a rematch of the 2006 USL First Division championship when the Rochester Raging Rhinos play host to the Vancouver Whitecaps on May 4 and the first-ever meeting between the two 2007 expansion sides when the Carolina RailHawks visit the California Victory on August 3. Every USL-1 club will be featured at least three times during the regular season broadcast schedule on Fox Soccer Channel.    

The 2007 season will also mark the first year in which all USL First Division matches will be available to viewers nationally on television or the internet with all 168 regular season games available either on Fox Soccer Channel or the new broadband internet broadcast channel USLlive.com 

2007 USL on Fox Soccer Channel Match Schedule