This Saturday, NBC and NBC Sports Network will combine to provide 10 hours of live MLS coverage. This will include the airing of three complete games and for the first time, whiparound coverage of four other games. It’s an unprecedented day for MLS and something that will give soccer aficionados some one stop destination when NBC Sports Network begins its coverage at 3 p.m.
NBC will begin the day with the airing of New York vs. DC United at 12:30 p.m. with the network’s main voices of Arlo White, Kyle Martino and host Russ Thaler at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey.
Then White, Martino and Thaler will hoof it to NBC Sports’ new world headquarters in Stamford, CT to host studio coverage of MLS Breakaway, an NFL RedZone-type show, which will provide whiparound coverage of six games. NBC Sports Network will provide full game coverage of Chicago vs. Sporting Kansas City and Seattle vs. Portland.
MLS Breakaway will provide cut-ins to Montreal vs. Toronto, Philadelphia vs. New England, Columbus vs. San Jose and Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado.
Let’s look at the coverage plans for what will be a smorgasbord for MLS fans.
NBC SPORTS GROUP TO PRESENT 10 CONSECUTIVE HOURS OF MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER ON MLS RIVALRY SATURDAY
Coverage of Seven Live Games, Including Three Complete Games and Four Live Look-ins on MLS Breakaway Highlight Coverage this Saturday, March 16 on NBC and NBC Sports Network Beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET
Rivalries Include: D.C. United at N.Y. Red Bulls, Chicago Fire at Sporting Kansas City and Portland Timbers at Seattle Sounders
MLS Breakaway “Whip-Around” Show Saturday at 5:30 p.m. ET Hosted by Arlo White, Kyle Martino and Russ Thaler from NBC Sports Group’s International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn.NEW YORK – Mar. 13, 2013 – NBC and NBC Sports Network will present unprecedented wall-to-wall Major League Soccer coverage with 10 consecutive live hours of seven games this Saturday, March 16 beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Every MLS game played on Saturday will be covered, including three live games – one on NBC and two on NBC Sports Network. A special two-and-a-half hour studio “whip-around” show, MLS Breakaway (5:30-8 p.m. ET on NBCSN) will cover all four games being played at that time. It is hosted by NBC’s MLS broadcast team of Arlo White, Kyle Martino and Russ Thaler – who will also call the N.Y. Red Bulls-DC United game earlier in the day – from NBC Sports Group’s new International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn.
Coverage on Saturday begins on NBC at 12:30 p.m. ET with a playoff rematch as the New York Red Bulls host D.C. United, from Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. Coverage continues on NBC Sports Network with two more games: Sporting Kansas City vs. Chicago Fire at 3 p.m. ET, and a Cascadia Cup matchup as the Seattle Sounders host the Portland Timbers at 8 p.m. ET.
FROM HARRISON, N.J. TO STAMFORD CONN.: NBC Sports Group’s MLS announce team of White (play-by-play) and Martino (“Between-the-Benches” analyst) and Thaler (host) will call the Red Bulls-DC United game on NBC from Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., and, immediately after the game ends, will travel to the new NBC Sports Group International Broadcast Center in Stamford, Conn., to host MLS Breakaway, a “whip-around” studio show showcasing coverage of the rest of Saturday’s MLS games (Montreal Impact vs. Toronto FC, Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution, Columbus Crew vs. San Jose Earthquakes, Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids).
COMMENTATORS: NBC Sports Network’s coverage of the Chicago Fire at Sporting Kansas City will be called by the team of JP Dellacamera (play-by-play), Robbie Earl (“Between the Benches” analyst) and Rob Carlin (host). John Strong (play-by-play), Brian Dunseth (“Between the Benches” analyst) and Jim Kozimor (host) will be at CenturyLink Field in Seattle to call the Sounders vs. Portland game.
“Our goal is to be the destination for soccer fans, and MLS Rivalry Saturday provides a perfect vehicle for them to enjoy the games they love,” said Pierre Moossa, Coordinating Producer for NBC Sports Group’s soccer coverage. “During MLS Breakaway, Arlo, Kyle and Russ will guide viewers through all the exciting soccer action and provide a balance between all four games.”
WHITE ON MLS BREAKAWAY: “Saturday is going to be a high-octane, adrenalin-fuelled day, which Kyle, Russ and I are very excited about. This type of show has never been done before in U.S. Soccer, so we are stepping into the unknown. But with a talented editorial team behind us, we can’t wait to provide some compelling television. It’s going to be an energetic show, containing all the best action from these key rivalry battles in MLS. The rest is up to the teams. Hopefully, they’ll provide some great goals and storylines to keep everyone entertained.”
Full Coverage of NBC Sports Group’s Rivalry Saturday Coverage (All Times ET):
Game Away Home Start Time Network Game 1 D.C. New York 12:30 p.m. NBC Game 2 Chicago Kansas City 3 p.m. NBCSN Game 3 Toronto Montreal 4 p.m. NBCSN* Game 4 New England Philadelphia 5 p.m. NBCSN* Game 5 San Jose Columbus 5:30 p.m. NBCSN* Game 6 Colorado Salt Lake 6 p.m. NBCSN* Game 7 Portland Seattle 8 p.m. NBCSN *MLS Breakaway “Whip-Around” Coverage
NOTE: Due to WNBC’s commitment to cover the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, coverage of D.C. United at New York Red Bulls can be seen in the New York DMA on NBC Sports Network and Cozi TV, a new national network developed by the NBC Owned Television Stations division of NBCUniversal. The D.C. United-New York Red Bulls game is also available live across the country on NBC Sports Live Extra, the NBC Sports Group’s live streaming platform.
To Find Cozy-TV click here: http://www.cozitv.com/get-cozi-tv/
To Find NBC Sports Network click here: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/ and use the channel finder.
That’s it.
