Mar 5, 2012

United Release Comcast SportsNet Schedule, John Harkes Returns to Broadcast Booth

Official United Press Release:


D.C. United, Comcast SportsNet announce television schedule
John Harkes returns to Comcast SportsNet booth

Washington, D.C. (March 5, 2012) – In conjunction with Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, the region’s premier source for multiplatform sports coverage, D.C. United today announced an extension of their longstanding partnership with the network, as well as the regional television schedule for the club’s 2012 Major League Soccer campaign. 

As part of the agreement, Comcast SportsNet will provide United supporters unsurpassed coverage of the Black-and-Red, with a schedule of 15 regular-season games this season, beginning with the Opening Night against Sporting Kansas City. United also announced today that the club’s match at Toronto FC on May 5 will kick-off at 4:00 p.m., the result of television considerations for the host club.

“We’re excited to continue working with our long-time partners at Comcast SportsNet,” said United President and CEO Kevin Payne. “They continue to place tremendous effort and resources to bring United games and news coverage into the homes of our supporters.  We appreciate the true partnership that we’ve developed with the Comcast SportsNet team.”

In addition to the season opener, additional highlights of this season’s regional television schedule on Comcast SportsNet include an appearance by the expansion Montreal Impact, as well as matches with Eastern Conference rivals Philadelphia Union, the New England Revolution and Chicago Fire.

“This continues to be a great partnership that delivers a wealth of high-quality, exciting D.C. United programming to our viewers,” said Comcast SportsNet Senior Vice President and General Manager Rebecca Schulte. “We are excited to produce comprehensive, multi-platform United coverage for their passionate fans this season.”

A fixture in the broadcast booth since the inaugural season, Dave Johnson enters his 17th year as the television voice of D.C. United. One of the premier soccer announcers in the United States, Johnson has done play-by-play of both outdoor and indoor soccer for nearly 20 years, appearing on Comcast SportsNet, Fox Soccer Channel, Prime Network, ESPN, and Pax Networks.  In the summer of 2006, Johnson served as play-by-play announcer for XM radio’s World Cup coverage and was behind the microphone for 26 games including the final in Berlin. Also on radio, Johnson has called the 2000 MLS Cup, the 2000 Gold Cup, the 2000 Olympic qualifying tournament, and several US Men’s National Team friendlies and World Cup qualifiers. His work as sports director at WTOP Radio was honored with an Edward R. Murrow Award in 2008.

This season’s broadcasts will be highlighted by the return of John Harkes to the Comcast SportsNet broadcast booth.  An iconic midfielder with United and the U.S. Men’s National Team, Harkes previously called United games in 2005 and 2006.  Harkes later worked with ESPN, calling MLS and U.S. Men’s National Team games from 2006 to 2011, including World Cup matches in 2006 and 2010.  As a player for the Black-and-Red, he led United to five major titles in three seasons as team captain from 1996-1998, including back-to-back MLS Cup Championships in 1996 and 1997, the 1996 U.S. Open Cup, the 1998 CONCACAF Champions' Cup, and the 1998 Inter-American Cup. Harkes was named to MLS All-Star teams all three years.  Harkes was the first player named to a D.C. United roster on October 17, 1995 and was the first player inducted to the Hall of Tradition on May 14, 2003.

Comcast SportsNet’s 2012 coverage of D.C. United will also be prominently featured on the network’s full lineup of daily news and entertainment programs, including SportsTalk Live and Geico SportsNet Central. Comcast SportsNet also provides complete coverage of United online at CSNwashington.com and CSNbaltimore.com.

2012 D.C. United Schedule

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