MLS Cup ratings

[uclacarlos]

Typically it takes a couple of days to get the overnight rating, right?

I figured I'd start a thread about it so we know where it might show up...

[FoxBoro 143]

Over in the MLS forums, someone stated the overnight ratings were 0.8 which is down from 1.0 last year. However this person did not post any link and it is unlikely that an actual number would have been released by that time.

[joebloe888]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2006-11-14-overnight-tv-ratings_x.htm

Major League Soccer title game: New England-Houston

Sunday, 3:30

0.8 (616,000)

ABC

Michael Hiestand's take:

"Despite overtime game, down 20% from last year."

"Soccer is the sport of the future in America and always will be. "

---

My take:

Nothing unusual for an MLS final.

Final rating will probably be 0.6% or 0.7% (i.e. no higher than 800,000 households) after the smaller markets are tabulated.

As usual, Hiestand is using the performance of MLS as a proxy for "soccer" as a TV product in the U.S.

Would you use the TV rating of a Conference USA or a Missouri Valley Conference college basketball game and say that "College Basketball is the sport of the future in the U.S.?"

That's what Hiestand is essentially doing.

MLS is currently the Conference USA or the Missouri Valley Conference of soccer TV products in the U.S. MLS is NOT the ACC, Big East, or the SEC. The Mexican League is.

By the way, Hiestand has NEVER published TV ratings for the Mexican superclasico in his weekly updates. For the record, the last two Chivas-Club America clashes drew over 1 million households EACH.

[Meta Tarsal]

MLS is currently the Conference USA or the Missouri Valley Conference of soccer TV products in the U.S.

Please..
More like the Big Sky Conference or Southland Conference.

[monster]

While it isn't MLS, this story (http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/11152006/sports-fringe1115.html) examines the challenges facing golf. The Tour Championship got a 0.9 this season. Golf's best rating was a 3.0 in 2006.

But we all know that soccer is the only sport with bad ratings, right?

[joebloe888]

While it isn't MLS, this story (http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/11152006/sports-fringe1115.html) examines the challenges facing golf. The Tour Championship got a 0.9 this season. Golf's best rating was a 3.0 in 2006.

But we all know that soccer is the only sport with bad ratings, right?

At least the PGA has finally come to its senses:

End the PGA season with the "FedEx Cup" series in SEPTEMBER, before the NFL and College Football become fully entrenched on TV.

The PGA events in October and November will be part of a "relegation" series, i.e. the "losers" will lose their tour cards. Those events will end up airing where they belong: on The Golf Channel.

NASCAR may eventually have to make the same adjustment, as its TV ratings in the Autumn have slipped.

As long as MLS continues to have playoffs in October and November, the TV ratings will be lousy and attendance at playoff games will be lousy.

The old NASL got one thing right: it ended the season on LABOR DAY when ABC had the TV contract.

[MasterShake29]

As long as MLS continues to have playoffs in October and November, the TV ratings will be lousy and attendance at playoff games will be lousy.

The old NASL got one thing right: it ended the season on LABOR DAY when ABC had the TV contract.

I don't think not playing in the fall is a realistic option. Playing in January isn't. December and February aren't wonderful options either. And June is usually taken by an international tournament. So when do you play?

I don't think MLS has much of a choice, they either have to go up against college football or the NFL. I think the much better option is to go against college football, as it isn't as popular as the NFL and also generally plays on the same day as the day MLS usually chooses for the rest of the season.

If that means no games on ABC, then so be it.

[Alberto]

While it isn't MLS, this story (http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/11152006/sports-fringe1115.html) examines the challenges facing golf. The Tour Championship got a 0.9 this season. Golf's best rating was a 3.0 in 2006.

But we all know that soccer is the only sport with bad ratings, right?

You need to qualify your post and state that the best rating for a Fall event was a 3.0. The Masters drew a 9.0 and 19 share and the 2005 Masters drew a 10.3, 21 share. The British Open generally draws between a 4 and a 5 with a share of 11 +/-.

[wufc]

I proposed this on the MLS boards, but I guess it's worth mentioning again: a split-season schedule may be a good idea. The whole April-August schedule I think, flat out sucks, especially when you're dealing with summer tournaments.

I propose MLS to go from mid-August to late-November, then start mid-February and end late-May. That roughly gives about 32 weeks of games, while at the same time, skipping the summer (World Cup, continental tournaments) and skipping the entire frenzy created by NFL playoffs and NCAA bowl season.

[monster]

You need to qualify your post and state that the best rating for a Fall event was a 3.0. The Masters drew a 9.0 and 19 share and the 2005 Masters drew a 10.3, 21 share. The British Open generally draws between a 4 and a 5 with a share of 11 +/-.
Thanks for the clarification - I read through quickly and didn't think.

See, Oliver, it's OK to admit when you are wrong.

[GutBomb]

I proposed this on the MLS boards, but I guess it's worth mentioning again: a split-season schedule may be a good idea. The whole April-August schedule I think, flat out sucks, especially when you're dealing with summer tournaments.

I propose MLS to go from mid-August to late-November, then start mid-February and end late-May. That roughly gives about 32 weeks of games, while at the same time, skipping the summer (World Cup, continental tournaments) and skipping the entire frenzy created by NFL playoffs and NCAA bowl season.


but starting in the middle of baseball playoffs and ending right after, then starting again at the beginning of basketball and hockey playoffs and ending right after.

we can't win if we're talking about competing against other sports.

april to november is just fine.

most places the worst winter months aren't november, december, and january. They are february and march. especially in colorado this is when we get the heaviest snowfall. it's just not realistic to play soccer in chicago, new york, boston, denver, kansas city, and toronto in february and march. heck, in denver a few years back we got 4 feet of snow in 1 night in APRIL. in the city.

[ne plus ultra]

I proposed this on the MLS boards, but I guess it's worth mentioning again: a split-season schedule may be a good idea. The whole April-August schedule I think, flat out sucks, especially when you're dealing with summer tournaments.

I propose MLS to go from mid-August to late-November, then start mid-February and end late-May. That roughly gives about 32 weeks of games, while at the same time, skipping the summer (World Cup, continental tournaments) and skipping the entire frenzy created by NFL playoffs and NCAA bowl season.
Where are you from? Oh, right. I mean, I didn't really need to know where you were from to ignore your ridiculous suggestion. I was just curious as to which completely blindered location you came from.