[stingbee30]

It appears that the HOUSTON V Galaxy game on ESPN2 Scored 0.6 rating on ESPN2 (actuall rating was 0.56 which you round to 0.6). As far as i know, this has to be the highest MLS playoff tv rating to date (maybe someone who has access to the archives could verify that, but if my memory serves, this is the highest rated MLS playoff to date). This means, by my estimate, something like about 700K viewers watched the game on ESPN2, even the game finished around 2:00 am (est) with power outages.

I think the game was on ESPNDeportes as well(i'm not sure about this, but if it was, than ESPNDeportes could have gotten another 60k-80k Spanish households).

Yes, MLS is not perfect, but this year, there were a few games where the ratings where over 400K+, and with 2 games getting over 500K viewers, and one or two games getting close to 500k.

On attendance, this was one of the best attended playoffs for MLS.

I expect this year's MLS CUP Final to be one of the highest ever. It will not match the ABC game with D.C United v New England which got a 1.8 on the overnight/1.5 nationally (if memory serves right), but it should score a 1.0-1.2rating on ESPN, with about 1.1-1.2 million viewers.

I do believe the game is on Galavision as well. At minimum, they could get around 250K-300K households, or even more due to Beckham factor and LA's being the largest TV market.

But in summary, if ESPN ends-up getting 1.0 or more rating for the game, It would be a good positive story for ESPN and MLS. This could set a precedant where MLS cup Finals could air on Primetime on ESPN.

The reasons for a good tv ratings:

1) Beckham/Donovan attraction
2) LA being the largest TV market
3) Seattle as a host city, will do well in the local tv ratings for final (TOP 10 City for TV market, with the Success of Sounders)
4) Salt Lake another TOP 20 tv market/in the Final

It should do well locally in markets like San Diego, Houston, San Francisco, , Chicago, Atlanta, Portland, Washington DC (including Northern Virginia/Baltimore). Perhaps, decent ratings from the New York area (2nd largest tv market), and Boston. You could add Dallas, and Miami to the mix.

It is good that MLS Final will be competing with a SNF on NBC that appears to be a weak match-up (due to two teams that are playing bad). SNF is between Bears (4-5 record) V. Eagles (5-4) who are playing badly the last few days. This SNF could end-up being one of the lowest rated SNF on NBC.

[blackhornet]

lol I thought New York was the largest TV market.

you know, when they ruled off that Dynamo goal, I couldn't help but think of this "Galaxy in the final" prediction. If only Chicago would have made their kicks, then the prediction might have been 3 million!

[stingbee30]

Originally Posted by blackhornet

lol I thought New York was the largest TV market.

you know, when they ruled off that Dynamo goal, I couldn't help but think of this "Galaxy in the final" prediction. If only Chicago would have made their kicks, then the prediction might have been 3 million!

Blackhornet, thanks for correcting the typo. Yes, NY is the largest tv market by 4 million or so. Regardless, the LA market is 2nd, and it will have an impact on the ratings.

Any reversal in the MLS CUP TV ratings will be a positive story for MLS and ESPN. I was watching Monday Night NFL Primetime show, and they play the promo for the MLS CUP. I assume, leading to the game, we could see many promos on ESPN family of networks, and that would be the logical thing to do. Remember, November is a key month for Network television in terms of advertisement and how much they can charge for a particular tv shows (November, Feb, May). I don't know if this is true for cable channels. But if it is, than you would assume that ESPN will do everything to get a solid rating on Sunday Night (during Primetime hours).

Yes, Chicago would have been the perfect match-up against LA Galaxy. But regardless, With Beckham, the game should attract some casual fans of the game. I guess we will know by sometimes next week.

[FallOfFingolfin]

I wouldn't have expected the game to draw a lot in Chicago anyhow--The Bears are on NBC's Sunday night.

[stingbee30]

Originally Posted by FallOfFingolfin

I wouldn't have expected the game to draw a lot in Chicago anyhow--The Bears are on NBC's Sunday night.

But, Chicago is another international city, and it always does well with the World Cup ratings. I assume there is going to be local interest due to the Fire being an MLS team, and with good following. The Bears are playing bad, and they have a losing record. So, that might impact their local ratings to an extend. MLS got somewhat lucky that this weeks's SNF is one of the weakest so far this season on NBC, and it could score one of the lowest ratings to date on NBC's SNF.

[stingbee30]

Some more updates

Beckham and Donovan Propel ESPN2 to Record MLS Viewership
ESPN2's live coverage of the 2009 MLS Western Conference Finals Friday, Nov. 13, a 2 - 0 extra time victory by the Los Angeles Galaxy over the Houston Dynamo, was seen in an average of 538,000 television homes (700,000 people 2+), based on a 0.5 rating, making it the most-watched MLS telecast ever on the network.

The previous record was on Thurs., Aug. 23, 2007, in a regular-season match between Chivas USA and Los Angeles, seen in an average of 532,000 television homes (658,000 P2+), a 0.6 rating.

Additionally on ESPN Deportes, the match was seen in an average of 73,000 Hispanic television homes (121,000 Hispanic P2+), a 1.6 Hispanic coverage rating.

[blackhornet]

Originally Posted by FallOfFingolfin

I wouldn't have expected the game to draw a lot in Chicago anyhow--The Bears are on NBC's Sunday night.

I was thinking more of the Blanco effect and casual Mexican loyalists - whatever their numbers are.