
The United Soccer League made waves around the sports world on Tuesday morning when it unveiled a four-year broadcasting deal that will result in 100 matches—of both USL Championship and USL League One—airing annually across the CBS Sports family of networks.
Fans will now be able to watch their teams on local CBS affiliates, CBS Sports Network, Paramount+ and the CBS Sports Golazo Network, which serves as the 24-hour home of soccer coverage. Additional coverage details will be announced in the coming weeks.
JAXUSL may not be taking the pitch next season, but that’s not stopping those in the office from being excited about this new agreement. Cole Pepper, who has a plethora of experience in sports media, believes this will further help the growing league.
“This partnership with CBS Sports is going to expose more fans to the USL and for existing fans, it will make for greater access to game broadcasts,” Pepper said. “The fact that an over-the-air network will broadcast USL games is amazing and shows the growth of the game and the league.”
It may not host the majority of USL matches, but adding CBS broadcast stations to the league’s portfolio will make its product more accessible than ever before. Games shown on the Golazo Network will be entirely free to watch!
“Adding CBS and the various associated platforms will allow soccer fans and general sports fans all across the country to see the high-level of play featured in the USL,” Pepper said. “The USL will be the highest level of domestic soccer regularly seen on broadcast television in the United States.”
While the USL is no stranger to streaming, this new partnership will bolster its online presence through a variety of means. Some matches will require a subscription to stream, but with roughly 60 million users, many fans likely already have access to Paramount+.
“CBS invested in soccer when they added CBS Sports Golazo Network to the existing CBS Sports Network,” Pepper said. “Having a 24/7 streaming home for soccer that now includes the USL means that the USL Championship and League One will both be a part of the national soccer conversation.”
Paramount+ has already cemented itself as a mainstay for soccer fans, largely thanks to its deal with UEFA Champions League. USL fans will now find their teams’ matches next door to Europe’s greatest tournament.
Broadcasting negotiations may be drawn up in corporate offices far away, but JAXUSL is hard at work to create local partnerships that will allow everyone within the Jacksonville area to watch our club’s USL Championship and Super League matches on broadcast TV.
“Our goal for our local broadcast partners will be to engage with the soccer fan community as well as with sports fans who haven’t been exposed to the excitement and passion of in-town pro soccer,” Pepper explained. “That means broadcasting home and away games as well as providing a platform to get to know the men and women behind the crest.”
This new agreement showcases the growing reach of the United Soccer League. We have plenty of exciting announcements of our own on the horizon, so stay connected through our website and social media accounts to keep up with all things JAXUSL!