Time Warner Cable kicks off coverage of Galaxy in Spanish

Time Warner Cable Deportes will kick off its first season telecasting Galaxy games Tuesday, Feb. 19, by broadcasting a preseason exhibition between Major League Soccer’s defending champions and the reigning Mexican League champion Xolos of Tijuana.

Time Warner Cable signed a record 10-year, $55-million broadcast deal with the Galaxy 16 months ago, and a big part of the deal was exclusive Spanish-language coverage on TWC Deportes.

It was such a big part of the agreement, in fact, that this off-season Galaxy President Tim Leiweke focused almost exclusively -- and, ultimately, unsuccessfully -- on signing a player who would resonate with Southern California’s Latino fans.

TWC Deportes’ on-air team will feature former Mexican professional Martin “El Pulpo” Zuniga and Samuel Jacobo.

Elmur Souza, the lead soccer analyst for the fledgling network, will travel with the Galaxy during the season and serve as a sideline reporter.

Although the “Border Battle” between league champions at the Home Depot Center doesn’t figure to feature many of the top players from either team, TWC Deportes will begin its broadcast with an hourlong pregame show, Galaxy En Vivo, beginning at 6:30 p.m., and close it with the postgame show Vamos Galaxy following the match.

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