No MLS Cup for Seattle

We're getting a new Major League Soccer team and everyone either is or should be excited. Drew Carey's walking around town, season tickets are flying off the shelves and the MLS Cup is approaching this weekend. On the field Houston faces New England, but there's sure to be a lot of talk during the broadcast about Seattle, our new team and the interesting ideas that have been associated with it. Unfortunately, no one in Seattle will see that broadcast. KOMO won't be showing it. A reader figured out it wasn't on KOMO's schedule and sent them an email. Here's what he got in return:

KOMO will not be airing the MLS Cup on Sunday. The FCC regulations on Children's programming are extremely strict. Part of the requirements for retaining a broadcast license is that stations must air a specific amount of children's programming each week during a specific window of time. ABC booked so many hours of sports programming this weekend that it was necessary for us to pre-empt some of the sports programming and air FCC children's programming.

Unfortunately ESPN was not able to find another home in the Seattle market to air the soccer match - either on cable or broadcast television.

Wow, great start Seattle! Don't blame KOMO, though. It's the damn FCC and their kids programming requirements that are obviously at fault here. The George and Dragon's schedule does indicate that they'll be showing the final live at 9am Sunday morning.

Update: Of course it will be on after all. ESPN2, 9am. See the comments for more detail.