• Loading stock data...
Friday, June 20, 2025
exclusive
Media

MLS, U.S. Soccer Score Content Distribution Deal With Bleacher Report

  • Bleacher Report will develop premium soccer content and highlights around MLS and U.S. Men’s National Team and U.S. Women’s National Team matches.
  • The deal will pay MLS and U.S. Soccer a rights fee, and bring another major media company into the fold as they look towards new media rights deals after 2022.
Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

MLS and U.S. Soccer have signed a new multiyear deal with Bleacher Report to develop and distribute soccer content through B/R-owned platforms, such as B/R Football.

The new agreement, which runs through 2022, aims to create another avenue for soccer fans to consume content, as well as get MLS and U.S. Soccer content in front of potential new fans.

“We have tremendous momentum as a league right now — and that momentum leads to more people looking for more MLS content in more —and different — places,” said MLS Senior Vice President of Media Seth Bacon. “We believe this new distribution platform will allow us to reach these new, highly engaged soccer fans and continue to push our growth trajectory in the right direction.”

B/R Platforms started to roll out MLS content during the league’s MLS is Back tournament, and will continue as MLS looks to conclude its regular season this fall.

Other efforts will include featuring highlights from U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Team matches, as well as additional new programming.

“This agreement doubles down on our commitment to U.S. soccer and growing a consequential fanbase here domestically where we see the biggest opportunity in capturing the hearts and minds of a new generation of soccer fans,” said Raphael Poplock, Bleacher Report senior vice president of new business development.

“B/R Football is the #1 brand for a young, vibrant, diverse, mobile-first generation of soccer fans globally and that is because we deliver content designed specifically with them in mind,” he said.

Bacon said MLS views this new deal as “additive” to its existing linear media partners in North American of ESPN, Fox, Univision, TSN and TVA.

“The content and features we bring to life on B/R Football will only be additive as we build more interest in MLS. It will create a bigger pool of people looking to consume content and, ultimately, our live matches,” he said.

The new deal, brokered by Soccer United Marketing, will also pay MLS and U.S. Soccer a six-figure rights fee and brings another major media company into the fold for MLS as it looks towards its next round of media rights deals in 2022, according to industry sources.

There is also potential for additional revenue from this deal through brand content opportunities, sources said.

Bacon declined to comment on the financial terms of the deal, but said it “allows MLS to engage with soccer fans in even more creative ways.” The league and B/R are also working on a new all-access documentary series that will debut across B/R Football channels.

Poplock said Bleacher Report is aiming to “reinforce our B/R Football vertical with a rich MLS [and] USSF library to elevate U.S. soccer in a meaningful way.”

He also noted that it will provide “unique sales solutions for MLS and U.S. Soccer sponsors interested in reaching this avid fanbase.”

“We will continue to take our best-in-class approach in creating branded content and mutually explore other revenue opportunities across experiential, eCommerce and original programming,” Poplock said.

Turner, Bleacher Report’s parent company, does not currently have any U.S. soccer media rights after opting out of its deal with UEFA around Champions League earlier this year, forgoing the remainder of this season and next.

However, Turner has shown interest in being involved in the next round of MLS rights negotiations, according to sources. MLS and U.S. Soccer currently receive roughly $90 million a year for its U.S. national media rights, a number the league is looking to increase significantly. CBS Sports, which had previously acquired the U.S. English language UEFA rights for the 2021-2022 season and beyond, stepped in for the interim. Univision holds the Spanish language U.S. rights.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

exclusive

LeBron James’s Growing Amazon Ties Could Lead to Prime Role

James has praised Prime’s NBA talent hires for the 2025–26 season.,
Jun 16, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) is introduced before the game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers in game five of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center.

NBA Taking Cues From NBA Twitter in Restoring Finals Pageantry

The NBA and ESPN/ABC made several changes on the fly.

Featured Today

Dec 5, 2024; Miami, FL, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA Club World Cup trophy during the Club Word Cup draw at Telemundo Studios.

Revamped Club World Cup Is FIFA’s Billion-Dollar Gamble

The revamped soccer event debuts amid controversy.
Jun 10, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino stands during the anthem against the Switzerland during the first at Geodis Park
June 14, 2025

Gold Cup Is Complicated for USMNT—but U.S. Soccer Has Its Eyes on..

Uncertain tournament success isn’t fazing forward-looking U.S. soccer.
Jan 24, 2017; Davidson, NC, USA; The Davidson Wildcats student section cheers during the first half against the Duquesne Dukes at McKillop Court at John M. Belk Arena. Davidson defeated Duquesne 74-60.
June 6, 2025

Every College Wants a Flashy Basketball GM Hire Right Now

The role is more important than ever, and the definition is ever-evolving.
August 31, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; The Goodyear blimp flies over Ohio Stadium during the first half of Saturday’s NCAA Division I football game between the Akron Zips and the Ohio State Buckeyes.
June 6, 2025

Why the Goodyear Blimp Is at Every Major Sports Event

The airship wasn’t built to cover sports. Now it’s a regular presence.

Pacers Force Game 7, Could Spark Big Ratings Boost for NBA Finals

Game 7 could boost NBA Finals ratings after a slow start this year.
June 17, 2025

Streaming Tops Linear for First Time, Sports Still Key to TV’s Resilience

Streaming hits another critical milestone in an accelerating media transition.
June 17, 2025

Stanley Cup Final Delivers Drama but Struggles for Eyeballs in U.S.

U.S. viewership fell while Canadian audiences for the event rose slightly.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Ted Leonsis unpacks basketball’s global rise, media rights, and portfolio ownership.
June 17, 2025

Zaslav Takes Pay Cut, TNT Sports Future Unclear in WBD Shake-Up

The TNT Sports parent company retools its executive pay after shareholder pushback.
Tyrese Haliburton
June 16, 2025

NBA Finals Ratings Up Again in Game 4 but Still Down Overall

More than nine million people watched Games 3 and 4.
Thunder
June 16, 2025

NBA, ABC Air Finals Lineup Intros After Fan Complaints

ABC aired player intros for the first time in 12 years Monday. 
Anthony Slater
exclusive
June 13, 2025

Top Warriors Reporter Anthony Slater Leaving The Athletic for ESPN

Anthony Slater starts at ESPN later this summer.