Red Bull and MSG extend broadcast contract

Marc de Grandpre, managing director of Red Bull New York, and Mike Blair, president of MSG Media, announced a new multi-year contract where MSG will air approximately 20 select Red Bulls matches per season.

MSG, a sports and entertainment network, has been the local television broadcaster and has held the television rights to Red Bull, formerly known as MetroStars, for the past 12 years. The first match to air on MSG this season is the Red Bull season opener, which will be held on Saturday, April 7 in Columbus, at 7:00 p.m. ET.

MSG will also televise the Red Bull home match the following weekend at Giants Stadium on Sunday, April 15, against FC Dallas. Kickoff for that match is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET.

"MSG Network has long been a great partner of this team since the League's inception," said de Grandpre.

"We are proud to once again provide our fans with the best television coverage possible on a network whose experience in sports programming and production is unmatched. We are thrilled to have MSG Network be 'the television home of the New York Red Bulls."

Blair commented on MSG's long-term association with Red Bull.

"MSG is proud to be the television home of the most local professional sports teams in our area and to be entering the 13th year of our partnership with the New York Red Bulls," said Blair.

"The Red Bulls are indicative of our commitment to providing New York's diverse sports fans with a variety of compelling programming choices in our unique high-quality fashion.

"We are excited about the Red Bulls ongoing commitment to play a leading role in expanding the public's interest in Major League soccer and we look forward to showcasing their games in a world class manner, as part of an exciting lineup on MSG that represents the heart of New York."

Shep Messing and JP Dellacamera will return for their sixth consecutive season together to analyze and call the play-by-play action.

Messing is a native New Yorker and former New York Cosmos hero with 14 years as a professional player and close to 20 years as a broadcaster.

Dellacamera is a veteran broadcaster of World Cups, UEFA Champions League and MLS regular season matches with more than 30 years experience in broadcasting.

During the off-season, Red Bull signed football star Claudio Reyna, who is considered one of the greatest players ever to wear a U.S. National Team uniform.

The club is scheduled to play in a new stadium next summer, Red Bull Park in Harrison, New Jersey.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.