LAFC announced today that Bally Sports SoCal (rebranded from FOX Sports Prime Ticket) and My13 KCOP will be the Club’s new English-Language Broadcast TV Partners for the 2021 season beginning with the first broadcast on My13 KCOP on Saturday, May 22 vs. Colorado.
All 18 LAFC games not airing exclusively on a national platform will either air on the all-new Bally Sports SoCal regional network or My13 KCOP in English, as well as in Spanish on Estrella TV KRCA-62.
“This is a significant and exciting step forward for our Club,” LAFC Co-President and CBO Larry Freedman said. “With the comprehensive coverage that Bally Sports SoCal and My13 KCOP provide throughout Southern California and beyond, the local broadcast of our matches will now be more accessible than ever before for our fans and supporters. We are thrilled to welcome Bally Sports SoCal and My13 KCOP to the Black & Gold family.”
LAFC’s first locally broadcast game on My13 KCOP and Estrella TV is Saturday, May 22 vs. Colorado, and the first match on Bally Sports SoCal is Wednesday, June 23 vs. FC Dallas.
For the fourth straight season, LAFC matches will continue to feature Lead Broadcaster Max Bretos joined on the call by a different, nationally recognized soccer personality each game. The “Max +1” platform will give viewers an innovative and unique perspective to the broadcast with rotating color analysts including such figures as Former U.S. National Team defender Heath Pearce, FOX Deportes anchor Rodolfo Landeros, former U.S. National Team member and broadcaster Christopher Sullivan, and former England National team member and FOX analyst Warren Barton, among others.
“We are very proud to partner with LAFC and to bring their exciting brand of soccer to as many of the team's devoted fans as possible,” said Bill Lamb, SVP/GM of KTTV/KCOP.
The LAFC pre and post-game show will air 30 minutes prior to and immediately following all matches on Bally Sports SoCal or My13 KCOP, with Mark Rogondino serving as the host. Katia Castorena joins all LAFC broadcasts as a sideline reporter.
A native of Southern California, Rogondino’s 20-year resume includes commentary for some of the top soccer leagues and tournaments in the world, including the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and Major League Soccer. A former San Diego State University goalkeeper, “Rogo” began his broadcasting career as the play-by-play voice of the 2000 San Diego Sockers. In addition to calling the “beautiful game”, Rogondino has covered a variety of local and professional sports, including the NHL, NBA, Arena Football, and high school football.
In her first season with the Black & Gold, the University of Southern California product has covered LAFC and the soccer world for ESPN, ESPN Deportes and SintesisTV in Los Angeles and Mexico.
Estrella TV KRCA-62 will also broadcast 18 matches, anchored by Francisco X. Rivera as the play-by-play commentator, Mexican legend Claudio Suárez as the color analyst and Alexandra Stergios as the sideline reporter, with coverage that includes a 30-minute pre and postgame show.
LAFC programming will air on Bally Sports SoCal and stream live on the all-new Bally Sports app, and on ballysports.com, when a consumer authenticates through their pay-TV service. The Bally Sports app is available on mobile and tablet devices, including iOS and Android, as well as connected devices including, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, Google Chromecast, Roku Players and Roku TV and Xbox One. Fans can also download the app for free from the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Amazon App Store, Roku App Store, XBOX One App Store and Windows App Store.
