Univision will broadcast Leagues Cup games starting in 2023. However, it will not do the same with Major League Soccer.
Univision will have linear rights to the Leagues Cup game package, according to Jonathan Tannenwald of the Philadelphia Inquirer. With Liga MX against teams from Major League Soccer battling each other, the League Cup Final appears on Univision. Currently, that is scheduled for August 19. In total, there are 47 teams competing, and that encompasses all of the MLS and Liga MX teams in the competition.
For starters, Apple acquired the rights to both MLS and the Leagues Cup from 2023 to 2032. The new MLS broadcaster allows fans to watch coverage in English and Spanish on the same platform. Plus, Apple’s MLS Season Pass is a paid subscription, so it’s a big difference for MLS compared to the previous deal from FOX, ESPN, and Univision.
The Univision free-to-air channel, itself, will not broadcast all Spanish-language television games for Leagues Cup. The provider designates some games to UniMás. While UniMás is on cable, UniMás is over-the-air in select cities.
Most expect the Leagues Cup to be a success. The new competition features the best teams from the United States, Mexico and Canada, appealing to that wide range of audiences.
Univision in League Cup, away in MLS
While Univision does have Leagues Cup telecasts, it will not broadcast MLS games in Spanish on television for the first time since 2006. The provider was also the first home of Spanish-language television coverage between 1996 and 1999. Then, it reappeared for the MLS in 2007, broadcasting games up to last season.
Part of the reason Univision is in MLS is because of the provider’s desire to stream games on ViX+, its designated streaming platform. Univision wanted to broadcast games exclusively on ViX+. However, as Apple TV+ has Spanish-language broadcast coverage for all MLS games in the new deal, there is no audience available for ViX+ in that regard. Essentially, you would be cannibalizing yourself by not maximizing potential audiences.
This comes shortly after ESPN stopped airing MLS games in English on television, a partnership that spanned Major League Soccer’s 26-year history.
Both Univision and ESPN will not have Major League Soccer telecasts for the regular season and playoffs.
PHOTO: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire
