NOT UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL MSG might do Bulls road games off monitors
MSG announcer Shep Messing and his partner J.P. Dellacamera might have to do road games via a studio monitor from the Garden in mid-town Manhattan. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
In what would be a bad precedent and a major step backwards in the media capital of the world, MSG could wind up having its announcers working New York Red Bulls road games off monitors instead of being live at matches this season.
The Red Bulls and MSG are close to finalizing an agreement to televise 18 games this season, but it could wind up a bare- bones arrangement that would mean the elimination of announcers at away matches, pre-game shows, and the Metro Soccer Report, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.
The pre-game show is considered by many soccer and MLS observers to be the best in the league.
The Metro Soccer Report is usually aired on Thursdays or Fridays.
Not having announcers on the road would be a first for the franchise, which kicks off its 12th season in Columbus April 7 (that telecast would be tape-delayed because of MSG commitments to the Knicks and Rangers).
JP Dellacamera and Shep Messing worked the games last year and are expected to return this season. They would watch the games off monitors at Madison Square Garden in midtown Manhattan and do their commentary, according to league sources.
The MSG-Red Bulls cutback was made available at the MLS marketing and public relations meeting in Fort Lauderdale earlier this week.
Univision announcers regularly announce games off studio monitors, but in a city that demands first-class broadcasts, it would be an embarrassing scenario for the Bulls and MLS if something is not rectified.
That might work in another city, but not New York City.
Every team in this market worth its salt has announcers at away games.
MSG officials are trying to salvage the pre-game shows, league sources said.
MSG hasn't sold any sponsorships, and the Bulls, who lost a reported $14 million last year, haven't sold many, if any as well, sources said.
Twelve of the Bulls' 30 games would be telecast by the league's broadcast partners -- Fox Soccer Channel, ESPN2, TeleFutura and HDNet.
The Bulls started negotiating with MSG and Sportsnet New York in November, trying for right fees. For the first time in its history, MLS received fees from its broadcast partners and a number of teams are getting money to broadcast games as well. That prolonged talks much longer than usual.
MSG and Bulls officials recently came to a general agreement about doing games this season and are ironing out some minor details, sources said.
An announcement on the deal is expected to be made soon, league sources said.
