ESPN, USL Strike Media Rights Agreement

The USL and ESPN announced a new partnership that will bring a new level of coverage to the league throughout the current season, and see the 2016 USL Championship air on an over-the-air ESPN network.

ESPN’s coverage of the USL will begin on Friday night, with the first of 20 exclusive regular-season broadcasts on ESPN3 as the Pittsburgh Riverhounds host Orlando City B at Highmark Stadium. The league also announced the next five early-season matchups that will air on ESPN’s digital platform, as the USL continued to build its online presence following the establishment of the USL Digital Network two weeks ago.

“We are thrilled to announce our new collaboration with ESPN,” said Jake Edwards, President of the USL. “This relationship is another step forward for the League and its digital first philosophy.

“We will be announcing an exciting broad based media and digital content strategy shortly that will meet and exceed the demands of our-ever growing supporter base while positioning our clubs and the League for long-term success.”

In addition to ESPN’s live coverage of the USL season, the league will also be featured on ESPN FC through the network’s television and digital platforms.

Award-winning soccer announcer Michael Watts and Juan Arango will work the booth for the 2016 USL Games of the Week on ESPN3.

Watts, who will serve as play-by-play announcer, has appeared on ESPN3, Fox Sports Go, YES Network, the NWSL, and beIN Sports, as well as several college sports networks.

Arango is a Miami-based journalist who has covered soccer and other sports for more than 10 years as a writer as well as a play-by-play announcer for various media outlets domestically and internationally, including Gol TV, ESPN International, TALKSport, BBC World Service, World Football Daily and also appeared on Radio Globo in Brazil.

2016 USL Game of the Week Schedule

April 22 – Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. Orlando City B, 7 p.m. ET
April 27 – Louisville City FC vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 7:30 p.m. ET
May 6 – Rochester Rhinos vs. Charleston Battery, 7:05 p.m. ET
May 13 – Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Portland Timbers 2,   9 p.m. ET
May 25 – San Antonio FC vs. Rio Grande Valley FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
June 8 – Sacramento Republic FC vs. Real Monarchs SLC, 11 p.m. ET

The 14 remaining regular-season games to be featured on the USL Game of the Week will be determined as the season progresses to bring supporters the most relevant games each week as clubs battle for playoff positions and seeds.