The United States qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa yesterday by defeating Honduras, in Honduras. We didn't even get to see it on TV because of the viewing rights were sold.  Someone, please shed some light on that for me.  I don't see how that worked for anyone. It feels political to me. Maybe, maybe not.

We need more world class soccer (football) exposure in this country.  Sports TV in this country are heavily infused with advertisements, in the form of commercial breaks.  No big deal, I get it.  Our native sports allow for many breaks throughout each game.  Basketball, baseball and football all incorporate TV timeouts in additions to the normal game breaks.  Soccer is played in about two hours.  Ninety minutes of play broken down into two 45 minute halves separated with a halftime ... no breaks other than halftime.  It's all runtime baby!  Low scores, few subs and many intricate plays throughout.  It's a great game and if you haven't played it, you can't dis it.

Sponsors have had little choice to contribute financially in an attempt to increase their market share. Ads surrounding the field do not generate enough revenue to pay for the broadcast, therefore, no broadcast.  Pre-game, post-game ads ... not enough.  Nobody is watching then anyway.  Nonstop play is an issue for nationwide broadcast of soccer matches.  I believe this has slowed growth for the sport in this country.  In my opinion, the biggest factor.  With better sports production focused within the game and not around the game, I believe it will draw more sponsors willing to provide nonstop play production to showcase the game properly.  Producers need to build a better advertising package to present to sponsors.

NASCAR is innovating using technology and expanding their fan base with every new hook they come up with.  If you're not a fan of auto racing, I challenge you to go to a race and experience the product (get the headset, it's not cheap but you should get it).  It will be hard for you to leave without becoming a fan.  Minimum, you will walk away impressed.  The hook ... you go home and watch next weeks race on TV and you get it.  NASCAR on TV is an educational experience.  They cater to the newbie.  NASCAR get's it.  Technology is available and if applied for the right reason, it will work. 

What major network doesn't apply self-service advertising at the bottom of the screen of one show, for another show.  It's seamless, however taking up more and more of the screen.  It does work.  Another method is to zoom the field of play down to about 80% and apply creative ads for a short period of time.  If that's what it takes, make it happen.  Again, producers need to build a better advertising package to present to sponsors.  Create a way to incorporate live video with web content.  People watch TV with computers in the room, notebooks surfing the net and smartphones within reach.  We need more funding to make the broadcast possible.  More broadcasts, more exposure.  More exposure, more money, more talent ... better soccer.  It's the chicken and the egg syndrome but that worked for chickens, let's make it work for US Soccer. 

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