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NYCFC-Red Bulls duel kicks off Fox broadcast

Fox Sports officials hope the allure of this weekend’s New York-New York MLS Rivalry Week matchup is the right time for the league’s over-the-air debut on the network.

The network is in the second year of an eight-year agreement with the league, but this year’s match schedule puts MLS on Fox for the first time, with four matches to air through the season.

“I think the league has done a great job creating some really intense rivalries in regions of the country and within communities, whether it’s the Northwest or Los Angeles, amongst others,” said David Nathanson, head of business operations for Fox Sports. “The NYCFC and New York Red Bulls one is the biggest on the East Coast, and it presents a great opportunity to showcase that as the first Fox-broadcast match for MLS in our partnership history.”

Year-to-date, the 10 MLS matches that have been shown on FS1 have averaged 204,000 viewers. That’s down 3 percent compared with the 210,000 average for 11 games on FS1 and FS2 at the same point last season, according to data compiled by SportsBusiness Journal.

While Nathanson said he’s pleased with how the league has performed for Fox so far this year, the weekend ahead provides a chance to take new strides. The MLS match will be preceded on Fox by the FA Cup Final, which features Manchester United and Crystal Palace. In the three years Fox has broadcast that championship match, it has averaged more than 823,000 viewers for the program.

“Making the decision to find windows on Fox [for MLS] made a lot of sense, and it’s our way to not only be embracing the league, but also showcasing the power of MLS to the broadest possible audience,” Nathanson said.

Additional high-profile soccer matches are ahead on Fox, as well. The network will air the Champions League Final on May 28, and the Copa America Centenario begins on June 3, airing exclusively on the Fox family of networks.
“We’re very bullish on what’s to come this summer,” Nathanson said.

— Ian Thomas

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