Christopher Harris - World Soccer Talk
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Christopher Harris

Since launching World Soccer Talk in 2005, Harris has played an influential role in shaping how broadcasters deliver the sport by providing in-depth analysis and reviews of the soccer TV coverage. He has interviewed virtually all media executives at the different media giants to stay apprised of changes in OTT and broadcast television while also keeping up with the latest reports and breaking news about key soccer rights acquisitions and the media landscape.

STORIES BY Christopher Harris

News

/ 7 days ago

Germany’s love affair with the NFL and the struggle to play Bundesliga games abroad

The influence of America in Germany continues to expand at an enormous rate. So much so that American football is now the fastest-growing sport in Germany. Exhibit A of America’s influence in Europe is this past weekend’s game between the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers. Both teams played a regular-season NFL game in front […]

News

/ 22 days ago

Bundesliga club doesn't rule out playing games overseas

RB Leipzig Managing Director Johann Plenge, who has been with the club since it was in the fifth tier of German soccer, has opened up about the possibility of Bundesliga clubs playing league games abroad in a revealing new interview. Ask any fan of a Bundesliga club which league is most likely to play league […]

News

/ 23 days ago

5 biggest misconceptions about RB Leipzig

For a club that was founded in 2009, RB Leipzig has come a long way. It began as a partnership with fifth-tier SSV Markranstädt, who Red Bull bought the playing rights from, ultimately changing the club name to RB Leipzig. Intending to reach the Bundesliga in eight years through the promotion/relegation system, RB Leipzig did […]

News

/ 26 days ago

What it's like sharing a hotel with Liverpool FC

What happens when you find out that the hotel you're staying at is the same one as Liverpool FC ahead of its Champions League game in Leipzig? The last time I shared a hotel with a professional soccer club was in Swansea where I stayed near the marina in the 1990s. Crystal Palace was in […]

News

/ 28 days ago

Lois Openda strikes a chord for RB Leipzig

In the same quiet city where composer Johann Sebastian Bach performed many of his miraculous compositions, its greatest export these days is RB Leipzig. Led by head coach Marco Rose, the club is hitting all the right notes as it sits at the top of the Bundesliga table alongside Bayern Munich. A key reason for […]

TV

/ 39 days ago

Columbus-Miami: Biggest MLS game delivers poor TV ratings

The most highly-anticipated MLS game of the entire 2024 season thus far delivered dismal ratings across US television. The October 2nd game between Columbus Crew and Inter Miami featured two teams fighting for the Supporters’ Shield. It also featured the two best coaches in MLS (Wilfried Nancy and Tata Martino) as well as the biggest […]

News

/ 62 days ago

Messi boosts Inter Miami revenue but falls short of Man United

Since Lionel Messi joined MLS, Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas says that club revenue has almost quadrupled to $200 million annually. Furthermore, Bloomberg reported that 4% of that revenue comes from selling broadcast rights. For Inter Miami, that’s roughly $8 million per season from the Apple MLS Season Pass deal. How does that compare to […]

Podcast

/ 63 days ago

Gary Neville interview on 'It's Called Soccer!' with Rebecca Lowe

Gary Neville is this week's guest on the World Soccer Talk Podcast. During the conversation, Neville discusses the launch of the brand-new It's Called Soccer! digital series that includes Rebecca Lowe and Jamie Carragher. The trio launched It's Called Soccer! on September 18. The show, according to a press release, promises to "discuss and debate […]

News

/ 91 days ago

beIN SPORTS USA in talks over rights to Portuguese Primeira Liga

beIN SPORTS USA is in talks to acquire US media rights to Portugal's Primeira Liga, sources close to the situation have told World Soccer Talk. The new development comes after World Soccer Talk revealed last week that beIN SPORTS renewed Ligue 1 rights until the end of the 2028/29 season. Discussions between executives at the […]

News

/ 98 days ago

Ligue 1 returns to beIN SPORTS for start of 2024/25 season

For viewers in the United States of America, France's Ligue 1 has returned to beIN SPORTS just in time for the start of the 2024/25 season. For the past three months, fans of Ligue 1 clubs were left in the dark, not knowing who would broadcast the league. Thankfully, per World Soccer Talk sources, a […]

Watch on US TV

/ 112 days ago

Where to watch Chelsea vs Club America on US TV and live streaming

Here are all of the details of where you can watch Chelsea vs Club America on US television and via legal streaming: WHO Chelsea vs Club America WHAT Preseason friendly WHEN 7:30pm ET / 4:30am PT • Wednesday, July 31, 2024 WHERE ESPN+ STREAM WATCH NOW With ESPN+, you can watch Chelsea vs Club America […]

News

/ 114 days ago

MLS' new Inter Miami stadium won't be ready in 2025

Inter Miami’s plans to open a new stadium with Lionel Messi in the team are unlikely to happen in 2025, according to a stadium construction expert. Team executives had big plans for the 25,000-seat Miami Freedom Park. In 2023, Inter Miami Managing Owner Jorge Mas said, “I can’t wait to welcome our fans to our […]

TV

/ 125 days ago

EFL FAQ: What fans need to know about the new CBS deal

CBS Sports' new deal with the English Football League (EFL) is a breath of fresh air for soccer fans in the United States. While ESPN+ was a big upgrade on the previous rightsholder beIN SPORTS, CBS' new deal is even bigger and better. To break it all down, here's the EFL FAQ to answer your […]

News

/ 127 days ago

USMNT needs a better coach, not a Steve 'yes man' Cherundolo

The main reason why US Soccer is even considering the hiring of LAFC’s Steve Cherundolo as the new head coach of the US Men’s National Team is because he’s a “yes man.” Previously, Cherundolo was interviewed by US Soccer before Berhalter was re-hired in 2023. Despite this, he has less first-team coaching experience than Berhalter […]

Honduras, El Salvador World Cup qualifiers move to PPV

Soccer fans wanting to cheer on nations such as Honduras, El Salvador, and other countries in the CONCACAF qualifiers for World Cup 2026 can watch the games live and exclusively via pay-per-view. CONCACAF World Cup qualifying started with the preliminary rounds in March. However, major teams like Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama and Jamaica […]

Podcast

/ 182 days ago

Why playoffs don't work in American soccer

We discuss the highs of the European title races and the excitement of teams trying to avoid the drop. Despite the incredible excitement across all of the leagues in Europe, American journalists want to change the way the leagues are structured to Americanize the leagues to the detriment of the fans. We also address US-based […]

TV

/ 183 days ago

FA Cup in USA rights renewed by ESPN for four more seasons

ESPN has successfully renewed its media rights deal to the English FA Cup in the USA for four more seasons. The new deal, which runs through until the end of the 2027/28 season, ensures that the world's oldest national soccer competition will continue to be streamed across ESPN+. Seven hundred and twenty-nine clubs competed in […]

TV

/ 196 days ago

Future of Serie A on US TV up in the air after decision delayed

Italy's Serie A season wraps up on May 26, and it'll also mark the end of the three-year US media rights deal with CBS Sports and Paramount+. Normally that wouldn't be an issue because leagues often announce the renewal of rights or a new broadcaster several months before a new season begins. However, sources have […]

News

/ 197 days ago

Borussia Dortmund exec talks Pulisic, USA expansion

Borussia Dortmund's Managing Director Carsten Cramer sat with reporters from World Soccer Talk, The Athletic, and The Daily Mail to discuss the club's internationalization plans for the United States. In a lengthy conversation, the well-respected and forward-thinking German executive discussed the impact of previous players Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna on merchandise sales, when Dortmund […]

Podcast

/ 203 days ago

Why aren't fans signing up for MLS Season Pass?

We jump into reading the feedback from soccer fans throughout the United States and our analysis and experience about why soccer fans are not signing up for MLS Season Pass, fifteen months after the service launched on Apple TV. Has MLS moving to Apple left the door wide open for USL, NWSL, and EPL to […]