MLS to Be Broadcasted by NBC Sports

American soccer league, Major League Soccer (MLS) signed a substantial three-year deal with broadcasting giant NBC Sports Group.

The partnership will begin in 2012 and Comcast Corporation, NBC and NBC Sports Network, will show 45 MLS games and four U.S men’s national soccer team matches per season, NBC and MLS said in a joint news release. Fox Soccer previously held the contract for the league.

The deal is worth $10 million per season, the Sports Business Journal reported, citing unidentified people.

Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBC sports group, said: “MLS is a perfect fit for our new group, and we are uniquely positioned to help grow soccer in the United States with extensive coverage on NBC Sports Network, significant programming on the broadcast network and our growing digital platforms.”

MLS already has local-coverage partnerships with five Comcast Sportsnets: California, Chicago, Mid-Atlantic, New England and Philadelphia.