The Sounders on Thursday extended their local TV deals with KCPQ-Fox and KZJO-MYT "after the first year of the partnership resulted" in a 32% viewership increase from '13 and the highest household ratings in MLS, according to Don Ruiz of the Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE. The multiyear agreement "includes a 30-minute pregame show, a postgame show expanded to 30 minutes, and other Sounders specials and segments." The club "also reached a separate multi-year agreement with Root Sports, which will continue as the club’s out-of-market broadcast partner throughout the Northwest." Eight Sounders games this season "will be shown" on KCPQ, with all other non-national telecasts on KZJO. Ross Fletcher, Kasey Keller and Jackie Montgomery "will provide game play-by-play, color and commentary" (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 2/13). In Seattle, Matt Pentz reported KCPQ on Thursday "dropped hints that former Sounders Marcus Hahnemann and Steve Zakuani will have some role with the broadcast" (SEATTLETIMES.com, 2/12).
LALAS AND FEARLESS: FUSION's Leander Schaerlaeckens noted Fox Sports' Alexi Lalas "can act as a moderator for the discourse on American soccer." Lalas said of his role on Twitter, "I try to keep a balance of where there’s an informational aspect of it, an editorial aspect -- an opinion, which is what my bread and butter is when it comes to soccer -- and a healthy dose of self-deprecation and humor thrown in there." He said of whether Twitter helps build his brand or is just for fun, "I use it as a way to interact with an American soccer culture that really grew out of this social type of platform" (FUSION.net, 2/12).
