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Christopher Harris

Since launching World Soccer Talk in 2005, Harris has played an influential role in shaping how broadcasters deliver the sport by providing in-depth analysis and reviews of the soccer TV coverage. He has interviewed virtually all media executives at the different media giants to stay apprised of changes in OTT and broadcast television while also keeping up with the latest reports and breaking news about key soccer rights acquisitions and the media landscape.

Apple TV

/ 542 days ago

Messi on MLS Season Pass boosts Apple TV viewership by 75%

Apple is described by Sports Business Journal as "one of the most secretive companies in the world." So, it's not much of a surprise that Apple is keeping viewing numbers for games on MLS Season Pass close to its chest. Nevertheless, an industry expert has been able to determine the Lionel Messi impact on MLS […]

FOX Sports

/ 543 days ago

USA vs Netherlands: 7.9 million for Women's World Cup game

Wednesday night's Women's World Cup game between USA and Netherlands scored an impressive viewing number. More than 7.9 million people watched the game across FOX and Telemundo. On FOX, specifically, the viewing audience was 6.429 million. While FOX Sports have the English-language rights, Telemundo Deportes are the exclusive Spanish-language rights holders. Telemundo scored 1.51 million. […]

Inter Miami CF

/ 543 days ago

Messi is the best move MLS ever made

We dive into several meaty topics such as the impact that Lionel Messi has made on MLS and Leagues Cup, how this Summer of Soccer has been more gruelling than any before it, why the FIFA Women's World Cup is causing viewers to make a tough choice, whether Inter Miami's Messi is having an impact […]

Apple TV

/ 543 days ago

Messi helps MLS Season Pass achieve viewership record

Apple achieved a MLS Season Pass record this past week as three matches were the most-watched in its short history. While Apple isn't sharing any details about how many people watched the games, or which games broke the records, we all know the answer. Inter Miami's games against Cruz Azul and Atlanta United were record […]

Inter Miami CF

/ 546 days ago

1.75 million watch Messi's debut for Inter Miami in MLS

The numbers are in for the Lionel Messi debut in MLS at Inter Miami. The game was watched by an audience of 1.75 million people across Spanish-language television in the United States. Friday night's Inter Miami versus Cruz Azul game was televised across Univision and TUDN. While the viewing number doesn't include how many watched […]

Leagues Cup

/ 550 days ago

MLS with Messi and Leagues Cup aims to cash in on Latinos

Latinos in the United States represent a $1 trillion market in a country that has the second-largest Spanish-speaking population on the planet behind Mexico. So, it's no surprise that MLS is trying to cash in on Latinos with a combination of Messi and Leagues Cup. In its corner, MLS sits in the enviable position of […]

Apple TV

/ 557 days ago

Apple in talks with Bundesliga about media rights, sources say

Apple has held talks with Bundesliga executives regarding rights to the top-flight German league, sources familiar with the matter have told World Soccer Talk. Currently, ESPN has an exclusive rights deal with the Bundesliga through until the end of the 2025/26 season. ESPN's partnership with the Bundesliga, which began in 2020 as a streaming-only rights […]

Friendlies

/ 558 days ago

Manchester United summer tour to be televised to US viewers

The Manchester United summer tour is around the corner. It's all change for the Old Trafford club with a new goalkeeper on the way, the $70 million signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea, and raised expectations. To see the Red Devils in action, sources have told World Soccer Talk that almost all of the preseason […]

Chelsea

/ 559 days ago

Wrexham vs Chelsea and Man United to air on ESPN networks

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Wrexham AFC are returning to ESPN airwaves, sources have told World Soccer Talk. The Red Dragons are heading to the United States to play four friendlies this summer, and two of the games are live on ESPN networks. Tickets to those two televised matches, against Chelsea (sold out; Chapel Hill) […]

Commentators

/ 560 days ago

MLS Season Pass is good news for American commentators

The launch of MLS Season Pass in February 2023 has been met with excitement from fans and commentators alike. The pass, which costs $14.99 per month, gives subscribers access to all MLS matches live and on-demand. This is a major boon for American commentators, who have long been limited in their opportunities to commentate on […]

FA Cup

/ 563 days ago

FA Cup changes could be devastating to lower league clubs

This episode of the World Soccer Talk Podcast, titled FA Cup Changes, is presented by Sling. We discuss the radical changes that the Premier League are proposing for the FA Cup, including selling the rights to the competition outside the United Kingdom — and what that means for the world's oldest football competition, and the impact […]

World Soccer Talk

/ 565 days ago

Publisher's note: Introducing our new comments experience

I am writing today to let you know we have launched a brand-new commenting system across the World Soccer Talk website, and I want to explain why and what it means for you. Previously, no registration was required to post a comment. While it helped make it as easy as possible to share feedback on […]

Leagues Cup

/ 570 days ago

MLS Success Overly Dependent on Messi

This episode of the World Soccer Talk Podcast, titled MLS Success Overly Dependent on Messi, is presented by Sling. What does it say about MLS that Leagues Cup was unable to get a TV deal in Mexico? We discuss the breaking news from Mexico where the TV networks have thumbed their noses at the US-based Leagues […]

Commentators

/ 573 days ago

Jon Champion joins NBC's Premier League coverage

Legendary commentator Jon Champion has joined NBC Sports ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League season, sources have confirmed to World Soccer Talk. Beginning August, Champion commentates the highest profile Premier League match every week in the Sunday 11:30am to 1:30pm ET timeslot. That key timeslot became available for Champion at a time of change for […]

Podcast

/ 574 days ago

The Saudi Arabia Effect and How It's Changing Soccer

As the richest league in the world, The Saudi Arabia Effect is having an impact on the world of soccer. We discuss the impact thus far. This episode of the World Soccer Talk Podcast is presented by Sling. In the last 12 months, Saudi Arabia has been working on trying to change sports as we […]