This is a dumb article.
The reason soccer hasn't taken off in the US is because it is not a TV sport. For several reasons its not a TV sports. For one.. Soccer is best viewed in attendance, not sitting on your couch watching it.
Number two, there is less advertising opportunity in soccer. You can only run TV ads at half-time. .
Also, the quality of soccer has alot to do with it. You can't see much world class soccer in the US, anything less than world class soccer is horrible on TV.
Speaking of soccer on the telly, it doesn't sound right with American/Canadian announcers IMO.
ff
As for advertising...networks have put up the "transparent" onfield ads. Additionally you get to see a lot more of the ads around field so I would have to guess that those advertisers within camera-shot are having to pay more for their ads than those advertisers that are not in view of the tv cams.
There's also a lack of soccer specific stadiums...Stamford Bridge is fantastic....I haven't been to anything quite like it over here.