TV

Soccer fans across the U.S. have often complained about big TV networks buying up the rights to major competitions only to hide them behind the additional pay walls of streaming services. All four major networks in the country have, at some point, been guilty of this in the last few years. So let’s give credit where credit’s due as CBS announced the 2022 Champions League Round of 16 TV schedule on Monday, including matches on CBS on six of eight match days.

Back in January, we reported on NBC’s surprise announcement it would shutter NBCSN, the home of the Premier League in the U.S. since 2013, at the end of the year. As we approach the final weeks of the network, NBC detailed how it plans to continue coverage of the Premier League without the channel Americans have long grown accustomed to tuning into on weekend mornings. 

In all honesty, the majority of soccer documentaries, unless you're a diehard supporter of the club featured, are skippable. In the end they all play out as exercises in public relations — glamorized puff pieces looking to move the needle on brand awareness. 

CBS doesn’t have the broadcasting rights for MLS Cup and apparently couldn’t give less of a damn about who is playing. I was double-checking which channel was showing the game and clicked on the preview done by CBS.