MLS on ESPN | |
---|---|
Starring | Various personalities (see below) |
Country of origin | United States |
Production | |
Running time | 2 or 2.5 hours |
Original release | |
Network | ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN+, ABC, & ESPN Deportes |
Release | 1996 2022 | –
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MLS on ESPN was the branding used for television presentations of Major League Soccer on ESPN properties, including ABC and ESPN2. Major League Soccer on ESPN debuted in 1996, the league's first season, and ended in 2022 when MLS and ESPN did not renew their broadcast contract. From 1996 to 2006, the weekly soccer match on ESPN2 was called MLS Soccer Saturday, but in the new contract, that was replaced by MLS Primetime Thursday. For the 2009 season and beyond, the Thursday telecast was replaced by a variety of primetime games on Wednesdays through Saturdays. From 2009 until 2019, as part of ESPN's far-reaching strategy of moving sports programming to ESPN, all matches – including MLS Cup – were on either ESPN or ESPN2.