Garber Confirms MLS Eyeing Local Rights In Next Media Package

MLS Commissioner Don Garber reaffirmed that the league's next media-rights deal may include "more local rights of its teams in order to present a more attractive package for national partners," according to Tenorio & Stejskal of THE ATHLETIC. MLS' current media-rights package with ESPN and Fox Sports is set to expire in '22. Garber said, "I am convinced that our new media deal will include content and games that are not part of our packages today." He noted the RSN business "has not been a key driver of revenue" for MLS "like it is in all the other leagues." Garber: "I can see a world where we are going to market with double the number of games we have because we might be pooling those local games and finding ways we can offer them to a digital provider like an ESPN+ or any other over-the-top company and have a slate that might include 400, 500, maybe even 600 events" (THEATHLETIC.com, 7/31).