USL announced yesterday that it had reached a deal with TelevisaUnivision to broadcast select USL Championship matches on TUDN this season. The deal will bring 11 regular season matches to the Spanish-language sports network, beginning with a doubleheader this weekend with Indy Eleven-San Antonio FC (7:00pm ET) and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC-Orange County SC (9:00pm ET).

In the press release from the league regarding the partnership, Court Jeske, USL Chief Commercial Officer, discussed the deal as a great way to expose the league to an entirely new audience. “TelevisaUnivision has a direct line to passionate soccer fans in our country. The USL Championship is growing every year, and we are thrilled to partner with TelevisaUnivision to continue that growth by bringing the excitement of our top league to a whole new audience.”

The deal brings even more exposure for the USL as the league has matches on CBS Sports, ESPN, and 24 local partners. Adding TelevisaUnivision is a big get for Championship as the channel “is the soccer leader in the U.S. regardless of language, accounting for more than 50% of soccer viewing on all of television.” USL Championship will be added to other leagues and competitions broadcasting with TUDN, including Liga MX, Liga MX Femenil, CONMEBOL Copa America, UEFA Euro 2024, UEFA Champions League and Concacaf Nations League."

The deal just makes great business sense for USL Championship, as it connects to a whole new audience of Spanish-speaking soccer fans. In a world of leagues competing for market shares, putting your content in front of an untapped population (for most American soccer leagues anyway) is a massive move. The press release included this list of matches and broadcast times:

June 15 - Indy Eleven vs. San Antonio FC, 7 p.m. ET, TUDN
June 15 - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Orange County SC, 9 p.m. ET, TUDN
August 10 - Charleston Battery vs. Memphis 901 FC, 7:30 p.m. ET, TUDN
August 11 - Indy Eleven vs. New Mexico United, 5 p.m. ET, TUDN
August 28 - Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. Memphis 901 FC, 9 p.m. ET, TUDN
September 6 - Louisville City FC vs. Loudoun United FC, 7:30 p.m. ET, TUDN
September 25 - Orange County SC vs. Phoenix Rising FC, 10 p.m. ET, TUDN
October 2 - Louisville City FC vs. Miami FC, 7:30 p.m. ET, TUDN
October 5 - Charleston Battery vs. Detroit City FC, 4 p.m. ET, TUDN
October 9 - North Carolina FC vs. FC Tulsa, 7 p.m. ET, TUDN
October 19 - Detroit City FC vs. Miami FC, 4 p.m. ET, TUDN
November 23 - USL Championship Final

- Dan Vaughn