MLS club Real Salt Lake is again "an afterthought" on the league's national television schedule, as RSL will "make four appearances on the NBC Sports Network and zero on ESPN networks," according to Scott Pierce of the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE. That is compared to 15 national appearances "each for the New York Red Bulls and Los Angeles Galaxy." RSL Dir of Public Affairs & Broadcasting Trey Fitz-Gerald "called it 'disappointing' and 'an annoyance.'" Pierce writes it is "certainly that for RSL fans, who have reason to complain that their team has been disrespected. Again." MLS and its broadcast partners are "trying to build a fan base, and one way to do that is to put a team that plays an exciting, attacking brand of soccer on the schedule." MLS teams "share the TV money," which "isn’t much -- about $18.5 million per year from both NBC and ESPN split 18 ways." Sounders FC investor Drew Carey said, "As far as the MLS goes, we make all our money locally. Our money isn’t in our TV stuff like the NFL." He continued, "It’s nice to get more national exposure. But it’s all local, man. You want to sell ads in your stadium. You want to get a good jersey sponsorship. You want to have luxury boxes sold. You want to have a good deal with the local TV station, the local radio station. If you’re counting on NBC revenues, you’re an idiot." But Pierce notes "not being on national TV more does hurt the bottom line." Fitz-Gerald: "If we were on national TV 10 times instead of four, that would be $250,000-$300,000 we wouldn’t have to spend in production costs to put those six games on the air. So, sure, we’re frustrated" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 1/11).
NEW TO THE BOOTH: In Tacoma, Don Ruiz notes BBC announcer Ross Fletcher will be the TV play-by-play announcer for the Sounders FC this season, while former Sounders FC G Kasey Keller will serve as the analyst. The pair will "replace Arlo White, who left after two seasons to become lead soccer announcer at NBC Sports" (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 1/11).
