UK: Sky TV acquires the rights of MLS and will broadcast two matches a week from 2015 to 2018

The British pay-TV group Sky acquired, for the first time, the exclusive live broadcast rights in the UK, to MLS (Major League Soccer, USA-CAN) on 25/02/2015. The contract covers the 2015-2018 period, or the next four seasons of the top flight North American soccer league.

The contract was negotiated through the marketing and media rights agency IMG, the distributor of the international media rights to MLS over the 2015-2022 period. No amount has been revealed to date, nor delivery platforms other than television, which Sky has under this agreement.

Sky Sports will broadcast live two MLS matches during each week of the competition, according to Taylor Twellman, a former American international and MLS player and now a consultant to the American sports pay-TV channel ESPN on 24/02/2015. The 2015 MLS season begins on 06/03/2015, with the fixture between the 2014 MLS Cup holder Los Angeles Galaxy hosting the Chicago Fire (kick-off at 22:00 Eastern Standard Time in the United States).

• The 2015 MLS season will be highlighted by two former English internationals:
  • Steven Gerrard…