ESPN Gets U.S. Soccer League Rights, Includes Online & Mobile

ESPN has reached a deal with U.S. pro league Major League Soccer (MLS) to put MLS games on the ABC/ESPN networks through 2014. MLS now has deals with Fox Soccer Channel, HDNet and ABC/ESPN, and is in negotiations for a fourth package with Univision. B&C says the ABC/ESPN deal is valued at $7-8 million per year, Fox Soccer Channel at $5 million per year, and HDNet at $2-3 million per year.
The ESPN deal includes some online and mobile rights, and the company plans to use its new media platforms like ESPN360, Mobile ESPN and ESPN Deportes. ESPN also has the right to offer in-progress and post-match highlights across all its outlets.
Daily Herald: “I’m the latest knucklehead who thinks soccer is going to work in the United States…through the mind-numbing litany of ESPN products, it is almost impossible for me to believe we can’t move this (game) forward”, said the new VP of content for ESPN, John Skipper, an avowed soccer fan.
Some more details in the release here.

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