Soccer on TNT Sports

Last updated

Soccer on TNT Sports
Genre Soccer telecasts
Theme music composerJon Batiste
Opening theme We Are
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Production location Atlanta, Georgia
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time3+ 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 primarily featuring the USSF and the FIFA Club World Cup. Previously, matches from the FIFA World Cup, Women's United Soccer Association, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and Liverpool F.C. have been aired by TNT Sports.

Contents

Overview

1990 FIFA World Cup and WUSA

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]

TNT [22] broadcast the first [23] Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) game on April 21, 2001, which was contest between the Atlanta Beat and New York Power [24] at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. [25] Former U.S. national team member Wendy Gebauer Palladino helped called the game alongside broadcaster JP Dellacamera [26] and American soccer great Michelle Akers. About 22 games [27] [28] were scheduled to be broadcast nationally on TNT or CNN/SI [29] in 2001. 15 games were initially expected to be shown on TNT [30] and seven games [31] on CNN/SI over the course of June to August. [32] The deal included broadcast of playoffs and the championship game, [33] [34] the Founders Cup. [35] During a four-year span, TNT and CNN/SI were due to televise at least 88 games, [36] under a $3 million TV contract. [37] After the 2001 season, the WUSA opted out [38] of its four-year [39] agreement to go with a two-year pact [40] with the Pax network. [41] [42] [43] [44]

UEFA Club Rights (2017–2019)

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. [45] 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. [46] [47] [48] [49]

Additionally, Turner Sports also carried the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup through the same contract as the Champions League programming. [50] [51] [52] [53] 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. [54]

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. [55] [56] 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. [57] The agreement includes the rights to the SheBelieves Cup, with non USWNT matches airing exclusively on Max.

Expansion of soccer coverage (2024–present)

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. [58] [59] [60]

In 2025, TNT Sports announced a sublicense agreement with DAZN to acquire the rights to 24 matches, including the final, of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. [61] Luke Wileman, Tony Husband, Andres Cantor and Kevin Egan served as play-by-play commentators for the coverage, while Brian Dunseth, Steve McManaman and Brad Guzan served as color commentators. Studio coverage, which despite airing on all DAZN matches originated from TNT Sports' studios, featured hosts Alex Scott, Lauren Jbara and Katie Witham, alongside analysts Juan Pablo Angel, Mo Adams, Melissa Ortiz, Conor Coady, Kei Kamara, Lutz Pfannenstiel, Pellegrino Matarazzo and BJ Callaghan. [62]

Later in 2025, TNT Sports announced an agreement with World Sevens Football to broadcast and produce coverage of the upcoming 7v7 Soccer Tournament in North America. The tournament will feature Kansas City Current and San Diego Wave FC from the NWSL, Mexico's Club América and Tigres UANL, Canada's AFC Toronto, Brazil's CR Flamengo, Colombia's Deportivo Cali, and Uruguay's Club Nacional de Football. [63]

On-air staff

Play-by-play

Color

Field reporters

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.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  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. ↑ "FOUR FORMER TAR HEELS IN INAUGURAL WUSA GAME". Go Heels. April 9, 2001.
  23. ↑ Lauletta, Dan (April 10, 2019). "In failure, WUSA left behind blueprint for distant future". The Equalizer.
  24. ↑ Felicien, Bria (April 20, 2020). "A look back at WUSA's Atlanta Beat, 19 years after inaugural match". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  25. ↑ Klein, Jeff Z. (April 17, 2001). "Foot Soldiers". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on September 16, 2018.
  26. ↑ "DELLACAMERA AND UNC'S GEBAUER TO ANNOUNCE FOR TNT AND CNN/SI'S WUSA GAMES". Go Heels. March 13, 2001.
  27. ↑ "WUSA: TNT and CNNSI to show 22 games". Soccer America. February 20, 2001.
  28. ↑ Stossel, Scott. "As American as Women's Soccer?". The Atlantic.
  29. ↑ "WUSA: TNT and CNNSI to show 22 games". Soccer America . February 20, 2001. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  30. ↑ WUSA 2001 Carolina Courage v Washington Freedom regular season on YouTube
  31. ↑ Tedesco, Richard (April 17, 2000). "WUSA scores Turner pact". Broadcasting+Cable.
  32. ↑ Penner, Mike (April 16, 2001). "It's the Birth of a Notion". Los Angeles.
  33. ↑ George, John (April 9, 2001). "Women's soccer team ready to Charge". Philadelphia Business Journal.
  34. ↑ "Ten Former Irish Players Making Their Mark In Women's ..." The University of Notre Dame. August 8, 2001.
  35. ↑ WUSA 2001 Bay Area CyberRays v Atlanta Beat Founders Cup I on YouTube
  36. ↑ Trecker, Jamie. "WMLS? No way, say U.S. women". ESPN.com.
  37. ↑ Wahl, Grant. "BATTLE OF THE SEXES". Sports Illustrated.
  38. ↑ Howard, Johnette (October 11, 2003). "WUSA THE EPILOGUE: Lack of television insight is No. 1 reason league is on the shelf". Newsday.
  39. ↑ Henderson, Christopher. "MARKETING OF PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S SOCCER IN THE UNITED STATES THROUGH FEMINIST THEORIES" (PDF).
  40. ↑ "WUSA had big drop in attendance". ESPN.com.
  41. ↑ Umstead, R. Thomas (December 18, 2001). "Pax TV Nets WUSA Pact". Multichannel News.
  42. ↑ Longman, Jere (June 3, 2002). "SOCCER; U.S. Soccer: Sport of 70's, 80's and 90's Still Waits". The New York Times.
  43. ↑ Longman, Jere (September 16, 2003). "SOCCER; Women's Soccer League Folds on World Cup's Eve". The New York Times.
  44. ↑ Schultz, Jaime (March 15, 2014). Qualifying Times: Points of Change in U.S. Women's Sport. University of Illinois Press. p. 191. ISBN   9780252095962.
  45. ↑ Lodderhouse, Diana (August 17, 2017). "Turner Acquires U.S. Rights To UEFA Soccer Games, Plans To Launch OTT Sports Platform". Deadline.
  46. ↑ Harris, Christopher (November 12, 2019). "CBS reveals more details about UEFA Champions League plans". WorldSoccerTalk. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  47. ↑ "CBS, Univision Land Champions League Rights In Surprising Deal". Sports Business Daily. November 8, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  48. ↑ "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.
  49. ↑ "CBS secures shock Champions League US rights deal, say reports". SportsPro Media. November 14, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  50. ↑ Harris, Christopher (November 12, 2019). "CBS reveals more details about UEFA Champions League plans". WorldSoccerTalk. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  51. ↑ "CBS, Univision Land Champions League Rights In Surprising Deal". Sports Business Daily. November 8, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  52. ↑ "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.
  53. ↑ "CBS secures shock Champions League US rights deal, say reports". SportsPro Media. November 14, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  54. ↑ "B/R Live Nabs Streaming Rights of Liverpool FC's Preseason Tour". Sports Video Group. July 1, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  55. ↑ Koons, Zach (March 2022). "U.S. Soccer Will Be Broadcast On Two Different Networks Starting in 2023". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  56. ↑ 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.
  57. ↑ "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.
  58. ↑ Orsuto, Arielle (May 31, 2024). "Deaf soccer takes national stage in historic match". 9 News. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  59. ↑ @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.
  60. ↑ "The TNets August Programming Highlights". TNT Sports Press Room. July 31, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  61. ↑ Weprin, Alex (March 5, 2025). "TNT Sports Snags FIFA Club World Cup Rights in Deal With DAZN". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  62. ↑ "DAZN and TNT Sports Announce Studio and Match Commentators for FIFA Club World Cup 2025 – Coverage Kicks Off Saturday, June 14". TNT Sports. June 5, 2025. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  63. ↑ "TNT Sports to Present First-Ever World Sevens Football 7v7 Soccer Tournament in North America, Dec. 5-7, on TNT, truTV & HBO Max". TNT Sports. November 18, 2025. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  64. 1 2 3 4 Tannenwald, Jonathan (January 10, 2023). "Luke Wileman is the new TV voice of U.S. national team games on HBO Max and TNT". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
  65. 1 2 "TNT Sports' Upcoming U.S. Soccer Coverage Highlighted by Three U.S. Women's National Team Matches, Including AllState Continental Classico – USWNT vs. Canada – on Wednesday, July 2, at 7:30 p.m. ET". TNT Sports. June 25, 2025. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
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