ESPN2 Major League Soccer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

ESPN2 Major League Soccer
Genre Soccer
Starring Various personalities (see below)
Country of origin Flag of United States United States
Production
Running time 3 hours
Broadcast
Original channel ESPN2 (1996-)
Original run 1996 – Present

ESPN2 Major League Soccer is a promotion of Major League Soccer (North America's premiere soccer league) on ESPN2 and ESPN on ABC, with simulcasts on ESPN2HD for the ESPN2 telecasts. Major League Soccer on ESPN2 debuted in the leagues first season, 1996 and is guaranteed to stay on the network till at least 2014. From 1996 to 2006, the weekly soccer match on ESPN2 was called MLS Soccer Saturday, but in the new contract, that will be replaced by a Thursday night telecast.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] 2006

On August 4, 2006, ESPN reached a comprehensive multimedia agreement with Soccer United Marketing (SUM) for the rights to Major League Soccer through 2014. As part of the eight-year agreement, ESPN2 will televise 26 regular-season and three playoff MLS matches each year, all in primetime on Thursdays. ABC will present the league's three marquee events - season-opening match, All-Star game and the MLS Cup.

Highlights of the agreement include:

  • ESPN2 will televise 26 regular-season MLS matches, primarily on Thursday nights
  • ESPN2 will televise three MLS playoff matches on Thursday nights
  • ABC will broadcast three marquee MLS matches - the season-opening match, MLS All-Star Game and The MLS Cup
  • Televised coverage of the first round of the MLS Draft.
  • ESPN2 and ABC's MLS telecasts can be re-aired in full or abbreviated versions on any ESPN media platforms
  • Extensive footage rights for all ESPN media platforms such as SportsCenter, ESPNEWS, ESPN Motion, ESPN360, etc.
  • ESPN will also produce and be solely responsible for the content, whereas, they had not been able to do that in the past.

Also in 2006, ESPN2's coverage of the MLS included new on-screen scoreboards, similar to those used during ESPN's coverage of the World Cup.

[edit] Technology

In addition, ESPN2 has numerous production enhancments to the telecasts. They include:

  • SkyCam: A common element during ESPN's NFL and MLB telecasts, SkyCam will return after making it's debut in 2005 on select ABC and ESPN2 telecasts. The device provides an aerial view of the field, giving the viewer a unique angle to appreciate the development and speed of match action.
  • MLS Wired: Telecasts feature use of the unobtrusive microphones, worn by select coaches and/or players, to capture some of the compelling in-game interactions and conversations.
  • Beginning in 2007, all games air in HD.

[edit] Personalities

Assignments are based on the 2006 season.

[edit] Current

[edit] Former

[edit] Guest Analysts

[edit] Broadcast Teams

Event Play-by-Play Analyst(s) Field Reporter(s) Host
MLS Soccer Saturday Dave O'Brien Marcelo Balboa Heather Mitts
Rob Stone Eric Wynalda Brandi Chastain
JP Dellacamera John Harkes
MLS All-Star Game Dave O'Brien Eric Wynalda Brandi Chastain Rob Stone
MLS Cup Dave O'Brien Eric Wynalda and Bruce Arena Brandi Chastain Rob Stone

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

ESPN Inc.

ESPN Executives: George Bodenheimer (President, ESPN Inc.) | Sean Bratches | Christine Driessen | Edwin Durso | Chuck Pagano | John Skipper | Norby Williamson | Russell Wolff

ESPN Family of Networks: ESPN | ESPN2 | ESPN on ABC | ESPNEWS | ESPN Classic | ESPNU | ESPN Deportes | ESPNHD | ESPN2HD | ESPN Now | ESPN Plus | ESPN PPV | ESPN360 | ESPN Radio | ESPN Deportes Radio

ESPN Business Ventures: ESPN.com | ESPN Original Entertainment | ESPN The Magazine | ESPN Deportes La Revista | ESPN Books | ESPN Zone | ESPY Awards | ESPN Integration | Jayski's Silly Season Site

Sports Properties: Arena Football League | College Football | Major League Baseball | Major League Soccer | National Football League | NASCAR | National Basketball Association | Women's National Basketball Association | List of Programming Rights

Key Programs: Around the Horn | Baseball Tonight | Cold Pizza | College GameDay (football) | ESPN College Football Primetime | Friday Night Fights | Jim Rome Is Burning | Mike and Mike in the Morning | Monday Night Countdown | Monday Night Football | NBA Friday | NASCAR Countdown | NBA Shootaround | Outside the Lines |Pardon the Interruption | Saturday Primetime | College GameDay (basketball) | SportsCenter | Sunday NFL Countdown | Sunday Night Baseball -List of programs broadcast by ESPN

Notable Personalities: John Anderson | Chris Berman | Bonnie Bernstein | Mike Breen | Hubie Brown | Linda Cohn | Chris Connelly | Lee Corso | Jay Crawford | Rece Davis | Chris Fowler | Ron Franklin | Peter Gammons | Mike Greenberg | Mike Golic | Jay Harris | Kirk Herbstreit | Fred Hickman | Tom Jackson | Dana Jacobson | Brian Kenny | Suzy Kolber | Tony Kornheiser | Bob Ley | Steve Levy | Kenny Mayne | Sean McDonough | Jon Miller | Joe Morgan | Brent Musburger | Brad Nessler | Dan Patrick | Mike Patrick | Karl Ravech | Tony Reali | Jim Rome | John Saunders | Stuart Scott | Howie Schwab | Dan Shulman | Michele Tafoya | Joe Theisman | Mike Tirico | Dick Vitale | Michael Wilbon -List of ESPN personalities

Eastern Conference
Chicago Fire  •  Columbus Crew •  D.C. United
Kansas City Wizards  •  New England Revolution
Red Bull New York  •  Toronto FC

Western Conference
Chivas USA •  Colorado Rapids
FC Dallas •  Houston Dynamo
Los Angeles Galaxy •  Real Salt Lake
Former teams On hiatus
Miami Fusion • Tampa Bay Mutiny San Jose Earthquakes
Miscellaneous

MLS Cup • All-Star Game • SuperLiga • USSF • CSA • Central Division • U.S. Open Cup 
Supporters' Shield • MLS two-team Cups • Current Players • Foreign Players • MLS Drafts • MLS Stadiums
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../e/s/p/ESPN2_Major_League_Soccer_a329.html"