re: MLS rejected a $4 billion media rights deal bc it required pro/rel

MLS has no obligation to anyone besides MLS. No one is stopping another American league from having pro/rel. Maybe Silva should offer that $4b to NASL and USL for them to combine and have 2 division. NASL has always thought themselves to be competitors of MLS, so here's there chance.

quote:

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"It is also important to note that since its inception, MLS, like the other North American leagues, has dealt directly with its domestic broadcast partners, rather than through agents and brokers," the statement continued. "This ensures that the league and its partners can structure an agreement that addresses all elements, such as scheduling, marketing and digital distribution, that are required for a successful partnership."

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You use the term cartel, yet fail to note this important detail in the negotiations. MLS--nor any other professional sports league in America--uses an intermediary to negotiate its broadcasting rights. Cable sports providers (Fox, ESPN, NBC etc.) are not going to want to deal with a third-party when trying to attain broadcast rights. In fact, they would rather completely ignore MLS and the subpar ratings it brings in, should they decide to sell their souls to Silva.

BeIn Sports would be the only provider willing to take on MLS, and that's because, BeIn USA is basically run by Traffic Sports with an agreement with Al Jazeera.

And frick Traffic Sports.

For starters, you would have one owner essentially owning how the games reach the masses.

Giving up the right to fully control your own "scheduling, marketing and digital distribution" to a third party for a massive payday sounds like soul-selling to me.