Major League Soccer is entering a new era. Last year, it signed a new eight-year contract with ESPN, Fox and Univision which the league hopes will give MLS more exposure, consistent TV times and when it all ends, it hopes for better ratings, increased viewership and more popularity among sports fans.
What fans will notice off the bat will be national games on Fridays and Sundays. Univision’s UniMás or Univision Deportes will have an exclusive Friday night Game of the Week. ESPN (mostly ESPN2) and Fox (mostly Fox Sports 1) will split a doubleheader on Sundays between 5 p.m. ET and 9 p.m. ET with mainly Eastern Conference games airing in the early window.
There will be two new features this season that will attempt to generate excitement during the last two weeks of the regular season. October 18 will allow both ESPN and Fox to pick any game of their choosing (except for UniMás’ Friday night game). This will be a flex window for the networks. Then in what the league is calling “Decision Day” similar to the English Premier League’s Relegation Sunday where all teams will play on the same day (October 25) with the Eastern Conference playing at 5 p.m. ET and the Western Conference at 7 p.m.
Here’s how things break down:
ESPN
- ESPN’s English-language networks air 34 regular season games, most will air on ESPN2.
- ESPN and ESPNews will air one game each. An undetermined ESPN network will air another game;
- ESPN Deportes airs a total of 34 games.
- 29 games will air on Sundays at 5 p.m. ET.
- ESPN gets a flex schedule pick on October 18 and a “Decision Day” game on October 25.
- ESPN has all digital rights to all games not televised nationally and can stream them either on ESPN3/WatchESPN or through an Over the Top subscription to cord cutters.
Here’s the 2015 MLS on ESPN schedule:
Date | Time (ET) | Match | Networks |
Sun, March 8 | 5 p.m. | Orlando City SC vs. New York City FC | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, March 15 | 5 p.m. | New York City FC vs. New England Revolution | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, March 22 | 5 p.m. | New York Red Bulls vs. DC United | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, March 29 | 5 p.m. | Chicago Fire vs. Philadelphia Union | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, April 5 | 5 p.m. | San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake FC | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, April 12 | 5 p.m. | Portland Timbers vs. Orlando City SC | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, April 19 | 5 p.m. | Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, April 26 | 5 p.m. | New York Red Bulls vs. Los Angeles Galaxy | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, May 3 | 5 p.m. | Sporting Kansas City vs. Chicago Fire | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, May 10 | 5 p.m. | Toronto FC vs. Houston Dynamo | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Wed, May 13 | 8 p.m. | DC United vs. Orlando City SC | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, May 17 | 5 p.m. | Orlando City SC vs. Los Angeles Galaxy | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Wed, May 20 | 8 p.m. | Sporting Kansas City vs. New England Revolution | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, May 31 | 5 p.m. | Seattle Sounders vs. New York Red Bulls | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, June 7 | 5 p.m. | Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids | ESPNEWS/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, June 21 | 5 p.m. | DC United vs. New England Revolution | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Wed, June 24 | 11 p.m. | Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, June 28 | 5 p.m. | New York City FC vs. New York Red Bulls | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, July 5 | 5 p.m. | Portland Timbers vs. San Jose Earthquakes | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, July 12 | 5 p.m. | New York City FC vs. Toronto FC | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, July 19 | 5 p.m. | Columbus Crew vs. Chicago Fire | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, July 26 | 5 p.m. | DC United vs. Philadelphia Union | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, Aug 2 | 5 p.m. | San Jose Earthquakes vs. Portland Timbers | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, Aug 9 | 4 p.m. | Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders | ESPN/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, Aug 16 | 5 p.m. | Seattle Sounders vs. Orlando City SC | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, Aug 23 | 5 p.m. | Los Angeles Galaxy vs. New York City FC | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, Aug 30 | 5 p.m. | Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, Sept 13 | 5 p.m. | Toronto FC vs. New England Revolution | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, Sept 20 | 5 p.m. | Portland Timbers vs. New York Red Bulls | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, Sept 27 | 5 p.m. | Sporting Kansas City vs. Seattle Sounders | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, Oct 4 | 5 p.m. | FC Dallas vs. Houston Dynamo | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, Oct 18 | 5 p.m. | TBD – MLS Flex Schedule | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
Sun, Oct 25 | 7 p.m. | TBD – MLS Decision Day | ESPN2/ESPN Deportes |
FOX SPORTS
- Fox Sports will carry 34 regular season games, all except one will air on Fox Sports 1
- Fox Deportes will simulcast all of FS1/FS2 games.
- All except six games will air at 7 p.m. ET.
- Fox Sports 1 will carry two Sunday night doubleheaders.
- Fox gets a flex scheduling pick on October 18 and one game on “Decision Day,” October 25.
Here’s the MLS on Fox schedule for 2015:
Date | Time (ET) | Match | Networks |
Sun, March 8 | 7 p.m. |
Sporting Kansas City vs. New York Red Bulls
|
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, March 8 | 9 p.m. | Seattle Sounders vs. New England Revolution | Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, March 15 | 7 p.m. | Portland Timbers vs. LA Galaxy |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, March 22 | 7 p.m. | San Jose Earthquakes vs. Chicago Fire |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, March 29 |
7 p.m. | Real Salt Lake FC vs. Toronto FC |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, April 5 | 7 p.m. | Sporting Kansas City vs. Philadelphia Union |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, April 12 | 7 p.m. | LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, April 19 | 7 p.m. | New York City FC vs. Portland Timbers |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, April 26 |
7 p.m. | Orlando City SC vs. Toronto FC |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, April 26 |
9 p.m. | Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, May 3 | 7 p.m. | New York City FC vs. Seattle Sounders |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, May 10 | 7 p.m. | New York Red Bulls vs. New York City FC |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, May 17 | 7 p.m. | Philadelphia Union vs. DC United |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, May 24 | 7 p.m. | San Jose Earthquakes vs. Orlando City SC |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, May 31 |
7 p.m. | New England Revolution vs. LA Galaxy |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, June 7 | 7 p.m. | San Jose Earthquakes vs. FC Dallas |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, June 14 | 7 p.m. | Orlando City SC vs. DC United |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, June 21 | 10 p.m. | Real Salt Lake vs. Sporting Kansas City |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, June 28 |
7 p.m. | Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, July 12 | 7 p.m. | Colorado Rapids vs. Real Salt Lake |
Fox Sports 2/Fox Deportes |
Sun, July 19 | 7 p.m. | Orlando City SC vs. New York Red Bulls |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, July 26 | 2:30 p.m. | New York City FC vs. Orlando City SC |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, Aug 2 | 7 p.m. | Chicago Fire vs. FC Dallas |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, Aug 9 | 7 p.m. | New York Red Bulls vs. New York City FC |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, Aug 16 | 7 p.m. | Philadelphia Union vs. Chicago Fire |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, Aug 30 | 7 p.m. | New York Red Bulls vs. DC United |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, Sept 6 |
7 p.m. | Columbus Crew vs. FC Dallas |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, Sept 13 | 7 p.m. | Orlando City SC vs. Sporting Kansas City |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, Sept 20 | 7 p.m. | Philadelphia Union vs. Houston Dynamo |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, Sept 27 | 7 p.m. | San Jose Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, Oct 4 | 9:30 p.m. | Seattle Sounders vs. LA Galaxy |
Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, Oct 18 | 7 p.m. | TBD – MLS Flex Schedule | Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
Sun, Oct 25 | 5 p.m. | TBD – MLS Decision Day | Fox Sports 1/Fox Deportes |
UNIVISION
- Univision’s networks air a total of 34 regular season games.
- Unimás will air 22 games.
- Univision Deportes will carry 11 games.
- A Univision network will carry one additional game.
- All except for two will air on Friday nights.
- UniMás and Univision Deportes will carry five consecutive doubleheaders between April 24 and May 22.
- UniMás and Univision Deportes will carry one game each on “Decision Day,” October 25.
- All of Univision’s games will be aired in Spanish, but English can be heard on the “SAP” channel.
- All of Univision’s games will be streamed online and can be accessed through cable and satellite authentication.
Here’s the 2015 MLS on Univision schedule:
Date | Time (ET) | Match | Networks |
Fri, March 6 | 10 p.m. | LA Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire |
UniMás |
Fri, March 13 | 7 p.m. | Houston Dynamo vs. Orlando City SC |
UniMás |
Fri, March 20 | 7 p.m. | Philadelphia Union vs. FC Dallas |
UniMás |
Fri, April 3 |
7 p.m. | Orlando City SC vs. DC United |
UniMás |
Fri, April 10 | 7 p.m. | FC Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids |
UniMás |
Fri, April 17 | 7 p.m. | New York Red Bulls vs. San Jose Earthquakes |
UniMás |
Fri, April 24 | 7 p.m. | Chicago Fire vs. New York City FC |
UniMás |
Fri, April 24 | 10 p.m. | Colorado Rapids vs. FC Dallas |
Univision Deportes |
Fri, May 1 | 8 p.m. | Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas |
Univision Deportes |
Fri, May 1 | 10 p.m. | Real Salt Lake vs. San Jose Earthquakes |
Univision Deportes |
Fri, May 8 | 8 p.m. | Orlando City SC vs. New England Revolution |
Univision Deportes |
Fri, May 8 | 10 p.m. | Colorado Rapids vs. San Jose Earthquakes |
Univision Deportes |
Fri, May 15 | 7 p.m. | New York City FC vs. Chicago Fire |
Univision Deportes |
Fri, May 15 | 9 p.m. | FC Dallas vs. New York Red Bulls | Univision Deportes |
Fri, May 22 |
8 p.m. | Columbus Crew vs. Chicago Fire |
Univision Deportes |
Fri, May 22 |
10 p.m. | LA Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo |
Univision Deportes |
Fri, May 29 |
9 p.m. | Sporting Kansas City vs. FC Dallas |
UniMás |
Fri, June 5 | 9 p.m. | Houston Dynamo vs. New York Red Bulls | UniMás |
Fri, June 19 |
9 p.m. | Colorado Rapids vs. FC Dallas |
UniMás |
Fri, June 26 |
9 p.m. | FC Dallas vs. Houston Dynamo |
UniMás |
Fri, July 3 | 9 p.m. | Houston Dynamo vs. Chicago Fire | Univision Deportes |
Fri, July 3 |
11 p.m. | Seattle Sounders vs. DC United | UniMás |
Fri, July 10 | 11 p.m. | San Jose Earthquakes vs. Houston Dynamo |
UniMás |
Fri, July 17 |
11 p.m. | Los Angeles Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes |
UniMás |
Fri, July 24 |
11 p.m. | Real Salt Lake vs. Sporting Kansas City |
UniMás |
Fri, Aug 7 | 11 p.m. | Portland Timbers vs. Chicago Fire |
UniMás |
Fri, Aug 14 | 11 p.m. | San Jose Earthquakes vs. Colorado Rapids |
UniMás |
Fri, Aug 21 |
11 p.m. | Portland Timbers vs. Houston Dynamo |
UniMás |
Fri, Aug 28 |
11 p.m. | San Jose Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy |
UniMás |
Fri, Sept 11 | 7 p.m. | New York Red Bulls vs. Chicago Fire |
UniMás |
Fri, Sept 18 |
7 p.m. | Sporting Kansas City vs. FC Dallas | UniMás |
Fri, Sept 25 |
7 p.m. | New York Red Bulls vs. Orlando City SC |
UniMás |
Fri, Oct 2 | 7 p.m. | DC United vs. New York City FC |
UniMás |
Fri, Oct 16 | 7 p.m. | Orlando City SC vs. New York City FC | UniMás |
Sun, Oct 25 | 5 p.m. | TBD – MLS Decision Day | UniMás |
Sun, Oct 25 | 5 p.m. | TBD – MLS Decision Day | Univision Deportes |
We should get details of how the ESPN online package will be available to consumers later this month.
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