DC United signed a one-year broadcasting deal with Sinclair Broadcast Group, "returning to a local platform after a disastrous partnership" with national streaming service FloSports last season, according to Steven Goff of the WASHINGTON POST. The 27-game package will "begin next Saturday with the season opener" against the Rapids on WJLA-ABC. Most if not all of the matches will "land on the secondary platform" while the club's "other seven matches will appear on national TV." The rights fee with Sinclair was not disclosed, but sources said that DC United "will not profit much off this arrangement." Goff notes this winter, the club "seemed close to striking a deal with NBC Sports Washington," but the outlet "apparently could not guarantee live coverage of every United match, in part because of its long-standing commitment" to the Capitals and Wizards in the spring and fall (WASHINGTON POST, 2/22). PRO SOCCER USA's Emily Olsen writes DC United terminated its four-year, $12M deal struck in '19 with FloSports after a "season of technical issues that affected viewing" (PROSOCCERUSA.com, 2/21).
MORE SOCCER IN N.Y.: On Long Island, Ryan Gerbosi noted YES Net's coverage of NYCFC matches "will feature 26 live broadcasts" this season. The 26 matches "will be the most locally broadcast" by the net since NYCFC’s inception, although YES will "show five of those matches on tape-delay." All matches also will be streamed live via Fox Sports Go (NEWSDAY, 2/22).
NEW SEASON, NEW VOICE: In Columbus, Jacob Myers noted the Crew is "returning to the television airwaves of Fox Sports Ohio and SportsTime Ohio" this season and is "making history in the process." Jordan Angeli has been "hired as the replacement for longtime television broadcast analyst Dwight Burgess, making her the first woman broadcaster in the 25-year history of the club." Angeli worked the past four seasons with the Rapids. Meanwhile, play-by-play broadcaster Neil Sika "is returning" for his 14th season with the club (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 2/22).
