TAMPA
, Fla.
– The United Soccer Leagues announced a three-year partnership with Fox Soccer Channel to air USL First Division matches and USL League championship games through the 2009 season. Fox Soccer Channel’s 2007 USL First Division schedule features three Portland Timbers matches, including two home dates at PGE Park.
Timbers matches to be televised internationally on Fox Soccer Channel:
Friday
May 11 vs. Seattle Sounders 8 p.m.
Friday
June 8 @ Montreal Impact 5 p.m.
Friday
July 13 vs. California Victory 8 p.m.
“We are excited to announce the continuation of our presence on Fox Soccer Channel,” said USL Executive Vice President and COO
Tim Holt
. “Fox Soccer Channel has become the destination for soccer viewing in North America over the past few years, and it is only natural that it is home to our weekly national telecasts.”
The new partnership continues a long-term relationship between USL and Fox Soccer Channel following the conclusion of their recent five-year deal. USL broadcasts will also be available on Fox Soccer Channel sister networks Fox Sports en Español, Fox Sports World Canada and Fox Sports Middle East/Africa.
The 2007 USL on Fox Soccer Channel broadcast schedule kicks off on the second week of the USL season with the first of 24 weekly USL First Division matches. The USL-1 television schedule includes the second legs of a quarterfinal playoff series and a semifinal playoff series. It comes to a close with the USL First Division Championship Saturday, Sept. 29.
Additional shows include three episodes of USL Breakaway, a behind-the-scenes feature and highlights show that debuted in 2006. USL Breakaway will air three times during the months of June, July and September; exact telecast details will be announced at a later date.
The 2007 season will also mark the first year in which all USL First Division matches will be available to viewers nationally on television or the internet with all 168 regular season games available either on Fox Soccer Channel or the new broadband internet broadcast channel USLlive.com
About Fox Soccer Channel
Fox Soccer Channel offers the most comprehensive coverage of world-class soccer available in the United States, including Major League Soccer, the Barclays English Premier League, Argentine First Division and Italian Serie A; as well as global tournaments such as the UEFA Cup, UEFA Women’s Championship, English FA Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, CONCACAF Champions’ Cup, CONCACAF Gold Cup, and FA Community Shield.
Fox Soccer Channel is one of 28 national and regional programming networks within Fox Networks Group, an operating unit of the News Corporation (NYSE:NWS).
About USL
The largest organization of elite-level soccer leagues in North America, United Soccer Leagues is dedicated to growing the sport at the grassroots level in every community, providing a platform for thousands of players to reach their dreams since 1986. This vision and commitment to develop a soccer nation by fans, investors, administrators, coaches, and players has created the foundation for the growth of the sport, while presenting affordable, exciting family entertainment in over 100 cities and towns on the continent.
