The NASL and CBS Sports Network Announce National Television Partnership
The North American Soccer League has announced a newly acquired television partnership with CBS Sports Network ahead of the 2016 NASL season. The coverage will include 12 matches that will air over the season as the league continues to strike partnerships with television networks including beIN Sports that was announced this week.
The CBS and NASL agreement is a ground breaking move for soccer in America – and one that clearly shows how the American public has embraced soccer. Even a few years ago, it was difficult for MLS games to gain significant television viewers. Last year, thanks to our Women’s National Team, a new TV ratings record was set during the final of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup against Japan. With an increase of 77% over the 2011 final, the most-watched soccer match in U.S. history is now the Women’s World Cup victory on FOX –with just a few less than 23 million viewers. Skeptics might never have believed it but women’s soccer soared to the forefront of the ratings game and hauled the entire game along.
Soccer News: The North American Soccer League and CBS Sports Network announced a national television partnership on Thursday, unveiling a schedule of 12 Fall Season matchups that will air on the network beginning in July.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to join forces with CBS Sports Network,” said NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson. “This new partnership will focus on bringing our incredible competition, and the stories that accompany it, to tens of millions of homes each week beginning in July. This is the beginning of something great.”
Rayo OKC will host FC Edmonton on Saturday, July 2 to kick off the lineup of NASL matches on CBS Sports Network. The schedule, which adds professional soccer to CBS Sports Network’s summer schedule, includes four matches in July, four in August, and two matches in both September and October, respectively. The full NASL match schedule for CBS Sports Network is listed below:
DATE KICKOFF (ET) MATCHUP (HOME VS. AWAY)
Saturday, July 2 at 7 p.m. — Rayo OKC vs. FC Edmonton
Wednesday, July 13 at 9 p.m. — Rayo OKC vs. Puerto Rico FC
Saturday, July 16 at 7:30 p.m. — Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Puerto Rico FC
Friday, July 22 at 7:30 p.m. — Carolina RailHawks vs. Miami FC
Wednesday, July 27 at 9 p.m. — Rayo OKC vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies
Wednesday, August 3 at 7:30 p.m. — Indy Eleven vs. Jacksonville Armada FC
Wednesday, August 17 at 7 p.m. — Jacksonville Armada FC vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Wednesday, August 31 at 7:30 p.m. — Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs. Minnesota United FC
Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m.– Miami FC vs. Carolina RailHawks
Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. — Jacksonville Armada FC vs. FC Edmonton
Wednesday, October 12 at 7 p.m. — Jacksonville Armada FC vs. Miami FC
Sunday, October 30 at 4 p.m — Jacksonville Armada FC vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies
CBS served as the NASL’s broadcast partner during the legendary days of Pele and George Best. An estimated 10 million viewers tuned into CBS to watch Pele’s debut match for the New York Cosmos in 1975.
“The NASL returning to the CBS family is an incredible story for everyone who enjoys the great game of soccer in North America,” said NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson. “The great soccer history and legacy of the NASL was first captured on CBS, and now decades later, we have partnered with CBS Sports Network to write a new chapter together.
The 2016 Spring Season kicks off this Saturday in four cities, with the opening week culminating on Sunday in New York, where the Cosmos host Ottawa Fury FC in a rematch of last year’s title game.
Source/Photo Credit: NASL
