In the first of its three year deal with Major League Soccer, NBC Sports Group is going all out to prove that it can be the home of soccer. A total of 41 games will be aired on NBC/NBC Sports Network. All games will have wraparound pre and postgame programming. Of course, NBC Sports Network will have the bulk of the games, 38 in all. NBC Sports will carry 3 games, the first one won’t be until September 15.
In the postseason, NBC Sports Group will carry five playoff games.
NBC notes that a Pro Soccer Talk blog will begin on its website when MLS season begins. The amount of games aired by the NBC Sports Group is the most by the MLS TV partners.
We have NBC’s press release and its MLS schedule.
NBC SPORTS GROUP KICKS OFF NEW MLS PARTNERSHIP WITH LIVE COVERAGE OF 41 REGULAR-SEASON GAMES IN 2012
NBC Sports Network Coverage of 38 Regular-Season Matches Starts on March 11 with New York Red Bulls vs. FC Dallas; NBC To Broadcast 3 Matches
NBC Sports Group to Present Five MLS Cup Playoff GamesNEW 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:
Sunday, March 11 — New York at Dallas, 3:00 PM, NBCSN
Sunday, March 18 — Colorado at Philadelphia, 4:00 PM, NBCSN
Friday, March 23 — Houston at Seattle, 10:00 PM, NBCSN
Friday, March 30 — Dallas at D.C United, 7:30 PM, NBCSN
Saturday, March 31 — New England at LA Galaxy, 11:00 PM, NBCSNSaturday, April 14 — Columbus at Philadelphia, 3:30 PM, NBCSN
Saturday, April 21 — Chicago at Toronto, 3:30 PM, NBCSN
Saturday, April 28 — New England at New York, 3:30 PM, NBCSNSaturday, May 5 — Philadelphia at Seattle, 4:00 PM, NBCSN
Saturday, May 12 — D.C. United at Houston, 4:30 PM, NBCSN
Saturday, May 26 — LA Galaxy at Houston, 2:30 PM, NBCSN
Sunday, May 27 — San Jose at Sporting KC, 4:30 PM, NBCSNSunday, June 17 — New York at Chicago, 5:00 PM, NBCSN
Sunday, June 24 — D.C. United at New York, 7:00 PM, NBCSN
Friday, June 29 — Chicago at Sporting KC, 8:00 PM, NBCSNSaturday, July 7 — Colorado at Seattle, 11:00 PM, NBCSN
Saturday, July 14 — LA Galaxy at Portland, 11:00 PM, NBCSN
Wednesday, July 18 — Real Salt Lake at Seattle, 11:00 PM, NBCSN
Saturday, July 28 — LA Galaxy at Dallas, 8:00 PM, NBCSN
Sunday, July 29 — New England at Philadelphia, 7:00 PM, NBCSNFriday, August 3 — New York at Houston, 8:00 PM, NBCSN
Sunday August 5 — Dallas at Portland, 7:00 PM, NBCSN
Friday, August 10 — Houston at New York, 8:00 PM, NBCSN
Wednesday, August 15 — LA Galaxy at Columbus, 7:00 PM, NBCSN
Sunday, August 19 — Philadelphia at D.C. United, 5:00 PM, NBCSN
Friday, August 24 — Real Salt Lake at Philadelphia, 7:30 PM, NBCSN
Sunday, August 26 — Dallas at LA Galaxy, 7:00 PM, NBCSN
Friday, August 31 — Colorado at Portland, 10:30 PM, NBCSNSunday, September 2 — Chivas USA at San Jose, 9:00 PM, NBCSN
Wednesday, September 5 — Portland at Colorado, 9:00 PM, NBCSN
Friday, September 14 — Houston at Sporting KC, 8:30 PM, NBCSN
Saturday, September 15 — Seattle at Portland, 3:30 PM, NBC
Saturday, September 22 — Portland at Real Salt Lake, 8:00 PM, NBCSN
Friday, September 28 — Chicago at Sporting KC, 8:30 PM, NBCSN
Saturday, September 29 — Seattle at Vancouver, 9:00 PM, NBCSNSaturday, October 6 — Chicago at New York, 3:30 PM, NBC
Saturday, October 6 — Real Salt Lake at LA Galaxy, 9:00 PM, NBCSN
Saturday, October 20 — Philadelphia at Houston, 7:30 PM, NBCSN
Saturday, October 27 — New York at Philadelphia, 1:30 PM, NBC
Saturday, October 27 — D.C. United at Chicago, 4:00 PM, NBCSN
Saturday, October 27 — San Jose at Portland, 6:30 PM, NBCSNAll 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.
That’s it.
