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Media Microscope: Seeking flexibility, MLS moves away from national TV windows

The league moved away from recent precedent when putting together its 2017 national TV schedule. Will it deliver better ratings?

When Major League Soccer announced its new national TV contract back in 2014, one of the most important advances it touted was the addition of weekly broadcast windows.

Prior to the new deal, the league’s research showed that an inconsistent schedule meant even die-hards struggled to keep track of when games were on national TV.

The introduction of weekly broadcast windows meant that would no longer be the case. With a Friday night match on UniMas and a weekly Sunday doubleheader at 5 p.