Houston Dynamo Games to Move to CSN Houston

Comcast SportsNet Houston (CSN), a partnership between the Houston Astros, Houston Rockets, and the NBC Sports Group, announced the network will become the official TV broadcast home of Houston Dynamo soccer starting with the 2013 Major League Soccer season.

CSN will produce and air 15-20 Dynamo matches, live in high definition, along with a 30-minute pregame show and a postgame show. In addition to matches, the network will produce Dynamo Weekly, an in-season magazine show; Dynamo Extra Time, a monthly off-season show; season preview and wrap-up specials; and a behind-the-scenes documentary series.

The first Dynamo game on CSN is set for Saturday, March 23, against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Other highlights include a home game against the 2012 MLS Supporters’ Shield winning San Jose Earthquakes (March 30), a late-season home game against Eastern Conference rival Sporting Kansas City (Oct. 9), and road contests at D.C. United (May 8) and Real Salt Lake (Aug. 10).

“The Dynamo’s success in MLS has been matched by a devoted and enthusiastic fan base,” Comcast SportsNet Houston President and General Manager Matt Hutchings said. “We’re pleased to add their matches to our lineup, as well as give fans unprecedented access to the team with our related programming.”

Dynamo programming on CSN begins Monday, February 25, at 6:30 p.m. with the first airing of Dynamo Weekly: Season Preview. The first regular episode of Dynamo Weekly debuts on Thursday, March 7, at 4 p.m. with multiple re-airings.

“The key thing was finding a television partner who believes in the Dynamo and shares the passion and commitment for growing the game,” Dynamo President Chris Canetti said. “CSN is that partner and is demonstrating its commitment through high-quality match production and an array of in-depth programming that will be rich with content and fuel discussion about the team.”

As part of the agreement, KPRC Local 2 (NBC) will partner with CSN and the Dynamo to air a limited number of matches. “We couldn’t be more pleased that CSN and the Houston Dynamo, two of our favorite partners, have signed a three-year agreement,” KPRC Vice President and General Manager Jerry Martin said. “We look forward to continuing to work closely with both of them throughout the length of this partnership and beyond.”