Rowdies TV deal, D-II streaming video package in works

Posted Mar 9, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Mar 10, 2010 at 12:19 AM

Looking to watch the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies on TV, or when they hit the road this season? You are probably going to need to be in a Bright House for the former, and have high-speed internet for the latter.

While deals have yet to still be officially announced, a North American Soccer League representative said on Tuesday that the Rowdies and Bright House Sports Network were likely to have a deal in place to televise some of the upcoming season’s home games. Calls to BHSN and e-mails to the Rowdies to confirm this went unreturned as of late on Tuesday night, but it appears a deal is firmly in place.

What will likely be announced first, though, is an online video package that will allow all of the USSF Division II games this season to be viewed live. The expectation is the system will operate in a similar fashion to Major League Soccer’s Match Center, the key difference being that this service will be free, with only registration with the site required.

Elsewhere, United Soccer League President Tim Holt had many interesting things to say in an extensive interview with Inside Minnesota Soccer on Tuesday, amongst other things reaffirming the organization’s commitment for the USL-1 to return to action in 2011.

With the return of USL-1 in mind, the USL’s F.C. New York will name its head coach and technical director tomorrow. Originally expected to join the USL this season, the franchise passed on the opportunity to join the USSF Division II along with the Rowdies, needing more time to prepare for its entry into the league.

In Division II signings, the Rowdies first opponent Crystal Palace Baltimore made a pair of signings on Tuesday, acquiring Cuban forward Yaikel Perez and Haitian midfielder Kenold Versailles, while the Carolina Railhawks re-signed Josh Gardner, who had a goal and four assists in 25 games last season.

Also adding to its roster was Miami FC, which signed Guatemalan forward Edward Santeliz.

On a lighter note, Pepsi has brought out a brilliant World Cup-themed commercial that can be found on Steve Goff’s Washington Post Soccer Insider Blog here.