Ever Winter, Major League Soccer releases its schedule for the upcoming season. In addition to setting out the slate of games, the initial release sets out the national television schedule, establishes breaks for FIFA dates and gives fans an opportunity to plan their Summer of soccer. We thought it would be worthwhile to talk to Brad Pursel, Major League Soccer's Vice President of Club Services about the process of putting together the league schedule.

NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) has found Arlo White's broadcast partner in Kyle Martino, according to a tweet by Grant Wahl.

The Sports Illustrated columnist reports that he is "hearing Kyle Martino to sign with @NBCSN as analyst for MLS/US broadcasts."

Wahl went on to say that it "sounds like FOX doesn't want to let Martino out of contract as Sounders did with Arlo White.

The United States will play Canada on June 3rd at Toronto's BMO Field (7pm ET - NBC Sports Network), the US Soccer Federation announced on Thursday. The game will be part of the Canadian Soccer Association's 100th anniversary. "First of all, we are honored to be chosen to be part of Canada's Centenary Celebration," US National Team coach Jurgen Klinsmann said.

Lauren Sesselmann (Green Bay Notre Dame) is headed to the Olympics this summer.

Sesselmann returned from a knee injury to start and played 63 minutes at left back as Canada beat Mexico 3-1 in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament on Friday night in Vancouver to earn a berth in the London Games.

By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (Jan 23, 2012) US Soccer Players -- On Sunday morning, the Premier League on Fox gave us a glimpse of the immediate future of professional soccer in the United States. A live regular season game on network television treated the same way as the other North American pro sports.

Arlo White now has his boots in the booth for NBC Sports Networks, and his successor behind the microphone for Seattle Sounders FC has been revealed.

I'm sure Ross Fletcher will do a bang-up job, and I'm truly intrigued to observe how Kasey Keller makes the transition from player to TV analyst, especially considering he's in the starting blocks at one of Major League Soccer's more important and higher profile regional broadcast positions.

Five MLS matches on NBCSN this summer will be proceeded by the Olympics, which the network hopes will attract scores of new American soccer viewers.

After securing MLS rights, NBC looks to take soccer in America to the next level - Goal.com

Other things include shoulder programming, on site pre/half/post for every game, and cross promotion from other NBC networks.

Today, US Soccer has announced changes to the US Open Cup that had been rumored for a few months. Plenty of changes have been made to the format and the design of the tournament. As a whole, all the moves that were made I would say were for the better.
First, all 32 professional teams in the United States will be competing in the tournament.

First, no, I did not watch NBC's new show "Are You There Chelsea," but someone I follow on FaceBook did watch it and she posted this screen capture, & in her defense, her caption was: "This stupid ass show got interesting."

First, no, I did not watch NBC's new show "Are You There Chelsea," but someone I follow on FaceBook did watch it and she posted this screen capture, & in her defense, her caption was: "This stupid ass show got interesting."

The 2012 MLS schedule is up, boys, so get set for the longest season ever. It will also be the biggest TV season ever, with NBC in for 41 games.- Greg Seltzer

The 2012 Philadelphia Union schedule was released on Thursday afternoon. After opening the season in Portland on Monday, March 12 at 9:30pm, the team will open at home against Colorado on Sunday, March 18 at 4pm.

The Union will finish the season hosting New York on Saturday, Oct. 27.

In the Eastern conference, the Union will play New York, DC, New England and Columbus at home twice and once on the road.

And that's NBC Sports with MLS as much a part of their product as anything.

Voting is closed and Sporting Kansas City's remarkable re-brand is the big winner of the American soccer business story of the year according to your votes. Sporting's win speaks volumes about the power of social media, as the team effectively used Facebook and Twitter to get out the vote. As we said in our posts about Sporting's remarkable transformation, the team managed its re-brand with great skill both on and off the field.

Veteran ESPN soccer commentator Rob Stone has jumped to Los Angeles-based Fox Soccer, the latest switch in what has become something of a soccer media merry-go-round this offseason. Already, Brit Arlo "the voice of the Seattle Sounders" White has joined new MLS home NBC Sports Network (formerly Verses) and

NBC Sports Channel's latest promo features MLS and a great explanation fo the corner kick.

Been on a nice self-imposed vacation from the interwebs over the last week and a half here in La La Land(on), which coincides neatly with the dog days of the MLS offseason. Sadly I was unable to see off Donovan to the land of Toffee. But I am preparing to eat a king's dinner of Indian food in downtown Pasadena tonight.

Just for fun: I thought I would embeded this new ad for the NBC Sports Network that launched January 1st. Gone with 2011 is VERSUS and in with the new 2012 is the NBC Sports Network who are contracted with Major League Soccer for the 2012 season. "This is not a corner kick," says the [...]

Further proof that NBC seems to just get "it" when it comes to soccer. If their production is half as good as these ads, then MLS will be doing fine on their new network.

Further proof that NBC seems to just get "it" when it comes to soccer. If their production is half as good as these ads, then MLS will be doing fine on their new network.

For those who have been wondering whether or not Major League Soccer would receive attention on NBC Sports, take a look at these promo videos put out. MLS 2012 is shaping up well. At the moment there are three circulating the internet. Check 'em out and let us know what you think.

For those who have been wondering whether or not Major League Soccer would receive attention on NBC Sports, take a look at these promo videos put out. MLS 2012 is shaping up well. At the moment there are three circulating the internet. Check 'em out and let us know what you think.

Another NBC spot for MLS.

Excited to see NBC devoting more resources to MLS.

Our cool-look logo for NBC Sports.
Well. That was goosebump-inducing.
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Are you ready for this? Production values are looking really good, check this vid out on the first day as NBC Sports.

This is our last installment in a series of post setting out the top business stories in American soccer from 2011. We have looked at Portland and Kansas City while also discussing NBC's entry as a soccer broadcaster and FOX's big play for World Cup television rights. We will set up a vote to select the top story early next week.

Jeremiah Writes A 2012 Wish List For MLS

And I agree with all of them, but there's one missing. A potentially huge one; I want to see a deep run by the US U-23s in the Olympics with stellar performances by Adu, Bunbury, Shea, Hamid, Wenger and Valentin. Imagine the USA beating Great Britain in London riding the backs of MLS' best young American talents.

By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (Dec 20, 2011) US Soccer Players -- In Tuesday's questions, Tony starts in the boardroom, and then travels to Canada, Italy, and England. Which organization offered MLS the most money during recent broadcast rights negotiations? Fox Soccer, according to this article in the New York Times.

Today MLS announced the national television games for MLS First Kick the weekend of March 10th. Sporting KC isn't going to be on national television for their season opener, but the announcement does narrow the field for who Sporting KC could play on the first weekend. The national broadcasts kick off on Saturday on TSN in Canada as one of last year's expansion sides, Vancouver, take on this year's expansion side, Montreal in Vancouver.

Tuesday, December 6th 8PM EST – 5PM PST MLS on NBC Play-By-Play Announcer Arlo White Daniel Robertson of BigDSoccer reviews FC Dallas Blake Compton of the Hudson Street Hooligans reviews Columbus Crew Chris Enger of the RSL Show reviews Real ...
Visit http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com for the rest of the story.

Arlo White did not come to the Seattle Sounders with expectations of becoming an icon. Surely, he had expectations that he would be successful, but any hopes were far exceeded, as he said in Part 1 of our rather lengthy interview.

In Part 2 of the interview, we delve a little deeper into his relationship with the team and the fans and how that turned a virtual "no-brainer" decision to join NBC into what that required far more thought.

When news first broke that NBC was pursuing Arlo White to be their soccer play-by-play voice for the upcoming season, many of us were in denial. By the time it was formally announced on Wednesday, it made perfect sense: This was a chance of a lifetime.

But whether or not Seattle Sounders fans could understand the move, it doesn't mean it hurt any less.

Comcast's NBC Sports Group who announced last August they were changing their Versus named channel to NBC Sports announced on Wednesday that Arlo White would be their new play-by-play man for MLS and U.S. National Team games. White has been the voice of the Seattle Sounders the last two season where he has received very [.

The news (and now confirmation) that NBC Sports has hired Seattle Sounders match commentator Arlo White as its lead man for MLS coverage is a loss for the Sounders and their fans but a much bigger boost to the state of American soccer commentary. White came over from the BBC but not without some familiarity with American sport as he had commentated a Super Bowl a few years before.

Today, NBC confirmed reports that they have hired Arlo White as their primary play-by-play voice for their brand-new Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer coverage. As many of you know, White has been the voice of Seattle Sounders FC, and ...
Visit http://www.majorleaguesoccertalk.com for the rest of the story.

After a couple of weeks off, we're back at it! We want to thank you for your patience and as we navigate the holiday season we will most likely be on a bi-weekly schedule until closer to preseason.

This week we talk about the loss of players James Riley and Tyson Wahl. As you probably know, Riley was selected by Montreal Impact in the expansion draft and immediately traded to Chivas USA and Wahl was traded to the Impact for allocation dollars.

After a couple of weeks off, we're back at it! We want to thank you for your patience and as we navigate the holiday season we will most likely be on a bi-weekly schedule until closer to preseason.
This week we talk about the loss of players James Riley and Tyson Wahl. As you probably know, Riley was selected by Montreal Impact in the expansion draft and immediately traded to Chivas USA and Wahl was traded to the Impact for allocation dollars.

Arlo White Officially Joins NBC Sports Group

Any dreams that Seattle Sounders fans had that the Arlo White to MLS on NBC thing was going to fall apart is gone. The loss for the Seattle Sounders and its fans will be the gain of MLS and the United States national team. White's comments on twitter today clearly show an appreciation for the team, the players and the fans.

NBC Sports announced today that it has hired Arlo White as the play-by-play voice of its MLS coverage starting in 2012. White had served as the voice of the Seattle Sounders the past two seasons.

His first broadcast with NBC Sports will be March 11 on opening weekend.

"It is a tremendous honor for me to join the NBC Sports Group, an organization that I have revered from afar for many years," said White in a news release.

NBC Sports announced today that it has hired Arlo White as the play-by-play voice of its MLS coverage starting in 2012. White had served as the voice of the Seattle Sounders the past two seasons.

His first broadcast with NBC Sports will be March 11 on opening weekend.

"It is a tremendous honor for me to join the NBC Sports Group, an organization that I have revered from afar for many years," said White in a news release.