FYI, cable providers are required to carry OTA networks only if it is offered to them for free. If the OTA network is charging the cable operator to carry their signal, then the cable operator can decline to carry the network. So their value is most definitely not "nearly infinite."
Not sure if this was already posted but MLS breakaway show (155 min) averaged about 51K viewers. Had a lead in of 82K from the SKC game. As low as that number is, that is still ranked in the top 1/3 in viewership numbers.
MLS 2013 TV Ratings Summary Home teams listed first. All times are Eastern NBC Sports Network (all ratings for 2.5 hour window unless specified) Game 0: 95k (RSL vs SEA) Saturday 7:30pm 2/23/2013* Game 1: 107k (HOU vs DC). Saturday 8:00pm. 3/2/2013 Game 2: 79k (CHI vs NE) Saturday 7:30pm 3/9/2013 Game 3: 82k (KC vs CHI) Saturday 3:00pm 3/16/2013 Game 4: 209k (SEA vs POR) Saturday 8:00pm 3/16/2013 * This was the Preseason Diamond Cup final. Will not be included in the season average ESPN2 (all ratings are for a 2.5 hour window) Game 1: 221k (POR vs NY) Sunday 7:30pm 3/3/2013 Game 2: 179k (SJ vs NY) Sunday 10:00pm 3/10/2013 Game 3: 108k (DAl vs HOU) Sunday 1:00pm 3/17/2013 NBC Game 1: .7 (NY vs DC) Saturday 12:30pm 3/16/2013** **This is the overnight rating. Number of viewers and final rating are not yet available
Twitter mostly. There is no online summary yet but tvmediainsights.com said they intend to keep an updated link like last year. Please see the first few posts in the thread for twitter and other sources.
0.7 rating Source: http://www.sbnation.com/2013/3/18/4...n-college-hoops-and-nascar-top-a-busy-weekend
Perhaps that's what he means-such an important game as a WCQ. Is it an unusual rating for a qualifier?
That is only part of the audience as the game was also on Unimas. A .7 on ESPN relates to roughly a little under 700k households, which should put the English language viewership over 1 million viewers. Not bad at all.
In terms of just the English language numbers, no it is not out of line either high or low if memory serves for the overnights.
Please note, in case there is some confusion, there are two different .7 ratings recently reported. One was for the US CR game on ESPN and one was for the NY DC game on NBC. I believe both are the overnights.
Say what you want about ESPN, and it's not directly connected to MLS, but ESPN is hyping the shit out of this US/Mex game more than any non-WC game I've ever seen in this country. And not just hyping/promoting the USA/Mex game, but talk of the USA/CR game has been on sports center, Around the Horn, Pardon the Interruption, the show with Dan Balatard or whatever his name is and other shows. They were just promoting then talking about the game and Azteca during the Heat game, with Jeff Van Gundy talking about getting a win in Azteca. It's great to see. And like I said, while it's not MLS, ESPN promoting soccer more helps MLS, at least theoretically as more people most likely are pulled into watching the game and hopefully consider watching more soccer if they enjoy it. The question of course is can MLS take advantage.
The total viewer count for ESPN for the US game was 860k. The rating was for the whole broadcast including the 25 minute pregame show. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/20...own-bering-sea-gold-storage-wars-more/174843/
Why would a snowstorm increase ratings? It may increase media attention after the game, but during? I doubt it.
Actually, I think NCAA basketball greatly decreased ratings, but the snowstorm greatly increased post-game chatter.
The age of text-messaging. It's so easy now to text out "Dude, check the CO game!" Takes barely any effort at all.