Shep Messing will be a studio analyst on Apple’s MLS telecasts. (Andy Mead/YCJ Photo)
Don’t fret Red Bulls fans, Shep Messing will be a part of Apple’s broadcast of MLS games this year,
Apple and Major League Soccer Monday announced a second round of talented on-air personalities who will be joining the MLS Season Pass broadcast team.
Messing has been added as a studio analyst.
Messing served as the lead analyst for the Red Bulls on MSG Network. He began his broadcasting career with ESPN in 1986, calling MISL matches and the first of four FIFA World Cups (1986, 2002, 2006, 2014) for the sports leader. He enjoyed a 13-year professional playing career as a goalkeeper, including seven in the NASL and six in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He was part of the New York Cosmos 1977 championship team along with Pele and earned four MISL championships. Messing also competed for the U.S. in the 1971 Pan American Games and the 1972 Summer Olympics.
He was among 31 announcers added by Apple and MLS.
The announcers:
— Studio hosts: Stefano Fusaro (Spanish) and Kaylyn Kyle.
— Match analysts: Patrice Bernier (French), Eduardo Biscayart (Spanish), Brian Dunseth, Danny Higginbotham, Cobi Jones, Devon Kerr, Jaime Macias (Spanish), Francisco Pinto (Spanish), Heath Pearce, Lloyd Sam, Ross Smith, Carlos Suarez (Spanish), and Jamie Watson.
— Studio analyst: Shep Messing
— Rules analyst: Christina Unkel.
— Play-by-play: Dre Cordero, Keith Costigan, Matt Cullen (French), Kevin Egan, Mark Followill, Adrian Garcia Marquez (Spanish), Adrian Healey, Eric Krakauer, Jorge Perez-Navarro (Spanish), Francisco X. Rivera (Spanish), Mark Rogondino, Sergio Ruiz (Spanish), Tyler Terens and Callum Williams.
These individuals join a team of previously announced announcers that represent many of the industry’s most qualified and compelling broadcasters. The complete on-air broadcast team and full production plan for MLS Season Pass will be announced prior to the start of the MLS 2023 season, which begins Feb, 25.
MLS Season Pass will feature every match of the regular season, Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, and Leagues Cup1 all in one place, with consistent match times and no blackouts. The service will also feature live pre-game, halftime, and post-game analysis, and a fast-moving whip-around show that will provide live look-ins and analysis from all the key moments from every match.
All matches will feature commentary in English or Spanish, while matches involving Canadian teams will also have French commentary. Pregame shows and the postgame wrap-up will be available in English and Spanish. Fans in the US and Canada will also have the option to select their home team’s radio for broadcast audio on the Apple TV app where available.
