Soccer on TNT Sports

Soccer on TNT Sports
Genre	Soccer telecasts
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Production location	Atlanta, Georgia
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	3+ hours (or until game ends)
Production company	Turner
Original release
Network	TNT Max

TNT Sports, on TNT, TBS, TruTV and Max, have aired soccer matches in the United States since 1990. Currently, TNT Sports holds the rights to matches featuring the USSF. Previously, matches from the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and Liverpool F.C. have been aired by TNT Sports.

Overview

FIFA World Cup (1990)

Turner Sports aired the 1990 FIFA World Cup^[1][2] live on TNT^[3][4][5][6] in the United States. The tournament was hosted by Ernie Johnson.^[7] Bob Neal^[8] and Mick Luckhurst^{[9][10][11][12]} served as the lead broadcast team. Meanwhile, JP Dellacamera^[13] and Randy Hahn^[14] were the other play-by-play announcers with Rick Davis^[15][16] and Ty Keough^[17][18] were the other color commentators. Also, utilized by TNT for the 1990 World Cup was Craig Sager^[19] and Paul Ryden.^[20][21]

UEFA Club Rights (2017–2019)

See also: UEFA Champions League on United States television

In 2017, Turner Sports announced that they had acquired the rights to air all of the matches from the UEFA Champions League live. The contract originally ran from 2018–2021. Tuner later announced that they would air 4 matches per week on TNT and the remainder of the matches on new streaming service B/R Live.^[22] All matches will be commentated through world feed. During the 2019-2020 season, Turner Sports opted out from the rest of the contract after airing 12 round of 16 matches, eventually giving up the rights. It eventually moved to CBS Sports where it became the rightsholder for English-language Broadcasts of the UEFA Champions League.^{[23][24][25][26]}

Additionally, Turner Sports also carried the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup through the same contract as the Champions League programming.^{[27][28][29][30]} In 2019, Turner Sports aired three Liverpool F.C. pre-season matches during July. Two matches aired on TNT while one was exclusively broadcast on B/R Live.^[31]

United States Soccer Federation (2022–present)

In 2022, Turner Sports announced an agreement with the United States Soccer Federation to air USMNT and USWNT matches from 2023 to 2030, replacing ESPN/ABC and Fox Sports, as part of an 8-year deal.^[32][33] Luke Wileman will handling play-by-play duties, while Sara Walsh hosting studio coverage and Melissa Ortiz reporting on sideline. Joined them as co-commentator or studio analysts will be Julie Foudy, DaMarcus Beasley, Shannon Boxx and Kyle Martino.^[34]

In 2024, the now rebranded TNT Sports expanded its coverage by airing a match featuring U.S. Women's Deaf National Team, two matches featuring the Argentina national team and two preseason soccer matches on TruTV.^[35][36][37]

References

1. Agnew, Noel (January 16, 2014). "World Cup 1990: Match Highlights And Fond Memories Of Italia 90 [VIDEO]". World Soccer Talk.
2. "XIV FIFA World Cup 1990". IMDb.com.
3. Markovits, Rensmann, Andrei S., Lars (December 2013). Gaming the World: How Sports Are Reshaping Global Politics and Culture. Princeton University Press. p. 115. ISBN 9780691162034.
4. Lapointe, Joe (July 8, 1990). "WORLD CUP '90; U.S. Viewers Get A Faulty Picture". The New York Times.
5. Sandomir, Richard (July 19, 1994). "WORLD CUP '94: TV SPORTS; ABC Snores Its Way for 120 ..." The New York Times.
6. "The early days of World Cup broadcasting in the US". BigSoccer. May 20, 2014.
7. Eisenband, Jeff (March 24, 2017). "Ernie Johnson On How Charles Barkley Changed TV, March Madness, His Election Monologue". The Post Game.
8. Craig, Jack (June 13, 1993). "TUNE IN TODAY TO TUNE UP FOR WORLD CUP". The Orlando Sentinel.
9. Asher, Mark (June 1, 1990). "A TEST OF SOCCER'S COMMERCIAL SUCCESS". The Washington Post.
10. Trecker, Jerry (June 1, 1990). "World Cup a Tough Sell on U.S. Television : Soccer: The network covering the event hopes to hook the audience from the start but must overcome a lack of interest in the sport". Los Angeles Times.
11. Trecker, Jerry (June 10, 1990). "Tnt Hopes To Lure U.S. Viewers To World Cup Soccer Telecasts". The Seattle Times.
12. Green, Ranny (June 10, 1990). "World Cup Telecasts Present Challenges". The Seattle Times.
13. Woitalla, Mike (May 8, 2018). "JP Dellacamera on the craft of the play-by-play announcer ..." SoccerAmerica.
14. "Sharks' Announcer Is Arrested". SFGate. June 14, 1995.
15. Sarni, Jim (May 19, 1990). "AMERICA'S TEAM GETS SENDOFF IN NEW YORK". South Florida Sun Sentinel.
16. Shapiro, Leonard (June 17, 1994). "VETERAN ANNOUNCER MCKAY, WORLD CUP ARE PERFECT FIT". The Orlando Sentinel.
17. "Alton Telegraph Newspaper Archives, May 23, 1990, p. 21". newspaperarchive.com. May 23, 1990.
18. Nidetz, Steve (May 18, 1990). "CHET SET TO CHAT FOR 4 MORE YEARS". Chicago Tribune.
19. Barnard, Paul. "TNT network posts tribute to Craig Sager". fansided.com.
20. Evans, Murray (May 27, 1990). "Soccer". The Oklahoman.
21. Ryden, Paul (February 5, 2020). "SPARTACUS AND ME". Ryden Original Productions.
22. Lodderhouse, Diana (August 17, 2017). "Turner Acquires U.S. Rights To UEFA Soccer Games, Plans To Launch OTT Sports Platform". Deadline.
23. Harris, Christopher (November 12, 2019). "CBS reveals more details about UEFA Champions League plans". WorldSoccerTalk. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
24. "CBS, Univision Land Champions League Rights In Surprising Deal". Sports Business Daily. November 8, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
25. "UEFA Champions League and Europa League come to CBS Sports with new U.S. TV rights deal". CBSSports.com. July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
26. "CBS secures shock Champions League US rights deal, say reports". SportsPro Media. November 14, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
27. Harris, Christopher (November 12, 2019). "CBS reveals more details about UEFA Champions League plans". WorldSoccerTalk. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
28. "CBS, Univision Land Champions League Rights In Surprising Deal". Sports Business Daily. November 8, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
29. "UEFA Champions League and Europa League come to CBS Sports with new U.S. TV rights deal". CBSSports.com. July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
30. "CBS secures shock Champions League US rights deal, say reports". SportsPro Media. November 14, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
31. "B/R Live Nabs Streaming Rights of Liverpool FC's Preseason Tour". Sports Video Group. July 1, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
32. Koons, Zach (March 2022). "U.S. Soccer Will Be Broadcast On Two Different Networks Starting in 2023". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
33. Tenorio, Sam Stejskal and Paul. "U.S. Soccer agrees to 8-year English-language media rights deal with Turner Sports and HBO". The Athletic. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
34. "Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Announces Talented & Accomplished Roster of Commentators Ahead of its U.S. Soccer Coverage Starting This January on HBO Max & TNT". Warner Bros. Discovery. January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
35. Orsuto, Arielle (May 31, 2024). "Deaf soccer takes national stage in historic match". 9 News. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
36. @TNTSportsUS (June 8, 2024). "Starting this weekend, @truTV and @SportsonMax will showcase the Argentina National Team "Tres Estrellas" US Tour. Sunday, June 9, 7 pm ET, vs. Ecuador commentary: Luke Wileman and Brian Dunseth Friday, June 14, 8 pm, vs. Guatemala commentary: Tony Husband and Kyle Martino" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
37. "The TNets August Programming Highlights". TNT Sports Press Room. July 31, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

External links

• Official website
• TNT Soccer Schedule
• CBS Wins U.S. Champions League TV Rights From TNT — Here’s Why This Could Actually Be Bad