MLS 2013 TV Ratings

I'm convinced that we have lost a few thousand viewers to WatchESPN App. ESPN just released their September numbers for their digital platform. Based on the numbers, they saw tremendous growth on their digital platform. Their average Unique Stream was something like 168K (includes all programs). With MLS young demographic, one would assume that we could have lost 25k-50k viewers on the average to WatchESPN. I'm using numbers below their baseline of 168K Unique average stream. It is possible for some marquee MLS matches to attract about 50k-75K or so unique streams on WatchESPN. We had some migration to ESPNDeportes as well. Perhaps, most of the TV viewership decline on ESPN/ESPN2 could be attributed to WatchESPN App.

To suffice, by looking at WatchESPN numbers from ESPN reporting, one could assume that the younger demographic is far more attached to their tablets, smartphones, and laptops.

 

197K is down by some, I know part of it is due to going 2.5 hours, but still ESPN can't be that happy about the trend.

 

TV UPDATE: Thursday's game will not be blacked out locally in Houston on NBC Sports Network. #ForeverOrange #DreamScreamBelieve

— Houston Dynamo FC (@HoustonDynamo) October 30, 2013

Don't know whether or not this is an indication of what will happen in other markets.

 

Some updated Playoff Schedule:

Week 2 schedule:

1)Wednesday 11/06/2013 @8:00 pm EST #NYvTBD (Univision Dep)
Wednesday 11/06/2013 @9:00 pm EST #SKCvNE (TBD/NBCSN has NHL)

2)Thursday 11/07/2013 @ 9:00 pm EST #LAvRSL (ESPN2)

3)Friday 11/08/2013 @11:00 pm EST #PORvSEA/COL (NBCSN)

4)Saturday 11/10/2013 @2:30 pm EST on NBC (TBD) This game was changed to Saturday...Another double-header with EPL. This game is scheduled to follow the Arsenal v Liverpool match. We could see good numbers from this game.

5)Sunday 11/10/2013 @9:00 pm EST on ESPN (TBD)

CONFERENCE FINALS SECOND LEG

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23

To Be Determined

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24

To Be Determined

 

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Although, that is the last resolution I though they would come to (I figured MLSLive first before CSN and NBC decided to simulcast.

 

CSN Houston is available to 39% of the Houston population and only 28% of the metro area. Only Comcast and some small companies picked it up. Most of us not only do not get the channel, but cannot even switch to Comcast (not in every area) to get it.

* which is too bad because they have done a great job of covering the team.

 

Correction: Nov 10 (Saturday game on NBC) is not following Arsenal v Liverpool (this game is scheduled this week). NBC has a MLS game scheduled this Sunday afternoon.

 

Everyone else is doing local blackouts, I think. Houston was an exception due to the CSN situation.

 

MLS Live has the Seattle local feed coming through here in Rhode Island. Guess I don't need NBCSN.

 

Not rattings, but I received an E-mail from Univision Deportes Network (marketing I guess)

They claim.

Primetime
UDN - 52K 18-49; 83K (p2+) average
FOXD 31K 18-49; 55K (p2+) average
ESPND 31K 18-49; 54K (p2+) average

Availability

UDN 35 Million
FOXD 21.2 M
ESPND 17.3M

UDN had 38 out of the top 50 live sporting events in the 3rd quarter of 2013.

UDN is averaging 155K for Liga MX games (up 84% from last year). Highest (they said including, but I assume they would show the highest to make them look good) was Santos vs. America on September 13th 368K (P2+)



They do source the Neilsen company at the bottom of their E-mail.



I replied asking for MLS ratings information, but since it is an Adblast, I don't think I will get a reply.

 

Local Seattle rating from last night's game:

Joshua Mayers ‏@joshuamayers3m
Sounders GM Adrian Hanauer said last night's playoff game drew about a 3.9 local rating on TV. He thought that was a team record.

As a point of reference, here were the ratings from local games back in September:

 

Sam Walker ‏@SamWalkers 9h
Kids 6-17 made up 4.6% of World Series audience. For NBA conf. finals it was 9.4%, NHL conf. finals 9%, Premier League soccer on NBC 11%

 

Both Legs of the Mexico WCQ Playoff games will be live on ESPN (Confirmed)

Nov 13th & Nov 20th on ESPN.

Nov 13th live @6:00 pm EST
Nov 20th live @ 10:00 pm PST/1:00 am EST

Nov 19th (Tuesday)/2nd Leg of European Playoffs

We could see a double-header on ESPN/ESPN2 for the UEFA WCQ Playoffs. I see France v Ukraine on ESPN2 and Sweden vs Portugal on ESPN (The Ronalda factor plays an important factor).

 

One thing to keep in mind is that the MLB, NBA and NHL playoffs are all in the evening, often not ending until well after midnight. A decent chunk of that demo will not be able to stay up that late, while they often will be up early on Saturday morning.

 

That whole "Saturday Morning Cartoons" thing was supposed to only be a joke...

 

Being a Revs fan glad they got 3rd and didn't play a playoff game last night.


Red Sox World Series game 6 did a 55.2 local rating.

 

Zoinks! And the Celtics had their opener and Bruins also played Wednesday night.

What is rating again--% of total television households, % of tv households in use?

Game 6 did very well nationally, I saw an estimate from overnights at 18 million viewers.

 

Two guys were talking about the series at practice last night. They asked who I wanted to win (we're in cubs territory), I asked who was in it. They both looked at me with the disdain I usually reserve for my past due tenants.

 

TV Cable Deportes is the Sports chanel for one of the biggest Cable companies in Mexico (Think Comcast Sports Net)

Bienvenida la @MLS a la pantalla de TVC Deportes, iniciamos el fin de semana

— TVC Deportes (@TVCDeportes) October 31, 2013

I guess the MLS playoffs will be televised on cable TV in Mexico.

TVCDeportes also shows the Mexican Basketball league, some Mexican Basebal League games and many Ascenso MX (Division 2) games in Mexico.

BTW La MLS = The MLS (but because of language differences it is probably the correct way of saying it)

 

I have recently come to the conclusion that it isn't everyone else's fault that the designers of the league picked a bad name.

 

12.4 Overnight rating for a game 6 is one of the lowest on record. So don't get caught with the hype. Your final rating will be around 11.0 rating. You are still going to have a World Series with below 15 million average. This is with Red Sox in the mix which is one of the most storied MLB teams.

 

It sort of like the League in MLS is crying out for a "the".

 

MLS would kill for those numbers in a Final.