SBS scores Major League Soccer rights

SBS has signed a broadcasting rights deal to bring the US Major League Soccer to live, free-to-air television for the first time.

Under the agreement, which kicks in today, the featured MLS match of the week will air each Monday morning at 10am, live on the SBS Viceland channel, and on SBS On Demand.

For the uninitiated, the MLS is the top-tier American soccer league, and features some of the biggest players in the world, with Argentinian star Lionel Messi, Uruguay’s Luis Suarez, Germany’s Marco Reus, and France’s Hugo Lloris all playing this season. There are six Aussies in the league, including Socceroos Kye Rowles and Patrick Yazbek.

Lionel Messi: the latest SBS on-screen talent.

“With the time difference, Sunday night soccer in the USA fits perfectly into our Monday morning schedule and complements our already expansive slate of football content,” said Ken Shipp, SBS director of sport.

This is the latest significant soccer deal for the broadcaster, who recently re-signed the rights to the FIFA World Cup 2026, a competition they have aired since 1986. It will air all 104 games of the Cup live on SBS, plus across its streaming channels. SBS will also air all 54 South American World Cup qualifying matches in the lead up to the competition.

Last November, SBS launched FIFA+, a free, ad-supported streaming TV station that airs archival games, live matches, soccer documentaries, interviews, and original programming.

An SBS spokesperson has confirmed to Mumbrella the deal is for one season “at this stage.”

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Nathan Jolly

Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.

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topics football Hugo Lloris Kye Rowles lionel messi Luis Suarez major league soccer Marco Reus mls Patrick Yazbek SBS SBS On Demand soccer

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