April 7 – The fast growing United Soccer League, awarded Division 2 status in the US professional league hierarchy this season, has boosted its broadcast coverage for the 2017 season just kicked off.
The improved schedule will see more games on ESPN – the Tampa Bay Rowdies and FC Cincinnati on July 6 at Al Lang Stadium, and San Antonio FC and OKC Energy FC at Toyota Field on July 14 – as well as the USL Cup in November aired on ESPNU.
The USL Game of the Week on ESPN3 will also return, with top games being featured on the streaming network throughout the 30-week regular season.
The media capability of the league has been a key selling point to club owners and under the new deal the USL has also entered a content sharing agreement with ESPN FC, providing more USL-related features and information throughout the 2017 season across digital platforms.
The USL also announced a new national radio agreement with SiriusXM. SiriusXM FC, will carry a live USL Game of the Week in addition to a weekly one-hour show.
The USL has rapidly expanded as a challenger league brand in the US and has grown to 30 teams playing in 20 US states and two Canadian provinces. It last week announced plans to introduce a third division in 2018, though the operational details and franchises for that league are still being worked on.
South American joy in the US for Qatari broadcaster
Sports broadcaster beIN Sports broke its own viewing records last month in the US as its channels reached more than 3 million viewers and 1.8 million among Adults 18-49 for its coverage of the World Cup Qualifiers for South America.
Panama vs USA on March 28 ranked as the most-viewed match on beIN Sports year-to-date and the most-watched qualifying match of all time on the network.
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