[stingbee30]

According to the recent article on Sportsbusinessdaily, the three highest rating MLS games have been:

March 19 (Thurs.) 9 p.m. New York-Seattle 0.3 (254,000 Households/327K viewers) ESPNDeportes numbers were not availabel (Not applicabel due to game not being simulcasted on Deportes). FOR ESPN2, it was the highest rated MLS game so far this season.

May 28 (Thurs.) 10:30 p.m. Chicago-Chivas USA 0.2 (233,000) and for ESPNDeportes a 1.3 Hispanic rating (63,000 spanish homes). THIS TELECAST when combined, according to my calculations, it reached about 296K Households/homes, and 350K-370K viewers. NOT Bad for an MLS rating, and making this game the highest in terms of households and viewers.

April 11 (Sat.) 10:30 p.m. Chivas USA-Los Angeles 0.2 (214,000/ESPN2) + 0.8 (33,000 spanish homes/ESPNDeportes). According to my calculation, you had a total of 247K households, and about 300-310K viewers)

The lowest, was a Friday game on April 17 (Fri.) 7 p.m. New England-D.C. United 0.1 (132,000) + 0.3 Hispanic rating (15,000 spanish homes)

So, from this, one could assume that Friday nights might not be a good spot for MLS, but the ratings for Saturday nights and Thursday nights are pretty much the same.

ESPN executives are optimistic that the ratings will increase with Beckham games on their calendar. They are very pleased with Deportes Numbers increasing 40% this year, going from a 0.5-0.7 Hispanic rating.


It would remain to be seen on what ratings Beckham games will get, especially LA v. Chivas USA in the next few weeks.

Hope this helped.

[stingbee30]

To suffice, so far this season, there have been some bright spots (CHIVAS USA games, SEATTLE v NY), and ESPNDeportes. The bad news is FRIDAY nights (eventhough, we only had one game so far).

[Sportsfan1]

the thing that hurts them is that they only play 30 games..and most teams play once a week.


Given that situation the numbers are horrid.


however they will suffice.

http://web.mlsnet.com/schedule/score....jsp?team=t106

talk about milking your product

[stingbee30]

I could be wrong with this prediction, but i think there is a good chance that we might see the first Beckham game scheduled against the Red Bulls to be shown on national tv. The game is scheduled for a Thursday night at 8:00 pm (JULY 16th). According to ESPN and MLS, their schedule is subject to change during the course of the year. I don't think ESPN2 has anything major scheduled during that time, or ESPN (as far i know). So, i think it would be a great event to showcase that game against the Red Bulls in NY on national tv. Once again, Giant Stadium should have atleast 30K-40K for that game. What do you guys think?

As for the next US game, on a Wednesday night, it is scheduled to be shown on ESPN2, but i wouldn't be surprised to see it on ESPN (depending what time they schedule the game). I'm betting that this game will be shown on ESPNHD/ESPN2HD. This is a big game and ESPN always gets good ratings.

[Sportsfan1]

Originally Posted by stingbee30

I could be wrong with this prediction, but i think there is a good chance that we might see the first Beckham game scheduled against the Red Bulls to be shown on national tv. The game is scheduled for a Thursday night at 8:00 pm (JULY 16th). According to ESPN and MLS, their schedule is subject to change during the course of the year. I don't think ESPN2 has anything major scheduled during that time, or ESPN (as far i know). So, i think it would be a great event to showcase that game against the Red Bulls in NY on national tv. Once again, Giant Stadium should have atleast 30K-40K for that game. What do you guys think?

As for the next US game, on a Wednesday night, it is scheduled to be shown on ESPN2, but i wouldn't be surprised to see it on ESPN (depending what time they schedule the game). I'm betting that this game will be shown on ESPNHD/ESPN2HD. This is a big game and ESPN always gets good ratings.

Beckham can probably get a game around 400K viewers.

[stingbee30]

yes, beckham game will easily get to the 400K-500K viewers (ESPN2+ESPNDeportes), and maybe a 0.4-0.5 rating. I think it would be stupid for the league not to get the first Beckham game not on national tv. It should create a great drama for the game, plus the game is New York (the media capital).

[Sportsfan1]

Originally Posted by stingbee30

yes, beckham game will easily get to the 400K-500K viewers (ESPN2+ESPNDeportes), and maybe a 0.4-0.5 rating. I think it would be stupid for the league not to get the first Beckham game not on national tv. It should create a great drama for the game, plus the game is New York (the media capital).

Beckham games last year maxed at 399K viewers vs Toronto..the the other few were slightly less.

You may be a bit optimistic.....no one in NY watches....and the Beckham affect is pretty dim now.


you have to remember the Seattle game was not only opening night but Seattle attributed to over 100K viewers....Chivas USA and Chicago both bring out the best of a latin audience even on English speaking channels

the best TV match-ups are Seattle vs La Galaxy or LA Galaxy vs Chivas USA,(if you add deportes), and Toronto FC VS LA galaxy for the Canadian crowd.

also a .4 rating = around 350K HH which would be 500K viewers or more....I would be completely and utterly shocked if Becks get a game over 400K viewers.

I would expect 300K on English tv vs NY and another 50K on Deportes...

[LaxBandit]

The following information was taken from a press release on the
NY Red Bulls website.

The LA at NY game on July 16 is scheduled for Fox Soccer Channel.
The telecast will be an MLS on FSC - Thursday Night Special.
Pregame show starting at 7:30 pm ET. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 pm ET.
30 minute postgame show following the conclusion of the game.
Fox Sports Espanol will also televise the match in a two hour window
starting at 8:00 pm ET.

The following information was taken from the ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN
Classic/ESPNU TV schedules for the month of July that are on the
ESPNMediazone.com website.

ESPN on July 16 has LIVE womens softball scheduled - United States
vs Netherlands - 8:00 pm ET to 10:00 pm ET. ESPN2 on July 16 has
taped Mens volleyball - United States at China - 8:00 pm ET to 10:00
pm ET. (Too bad the MLS game isn't on ESPN2 - would have been a
nice lead-in - well for me at least - to the LIVE MLL (outdoor lacrosse)
All-Star Game that is on from 10:00 pm ET to 12:30 am ET - I would
then just have to record one channel to get both the soccer/lacrosse
games.) ESPN Classic has old boxing matches and ESPNU has X-Games
Classics scheduled for that evening.

The following information is taken from the soccer TV schedule on the
soccernet page thats on the ESPN.com website.

United States vs Mexico is tenatively scheduled for ESPN2 on Aug 12
with coverage starting at 7:00 pm ET. (I assume ESPN will have a MLB
game that evening - probably with a 7:00 pm ET start time. No word on
what ESPN Classic or ESPNU have scheduled for that evening.)

LB...

[saabrian]

What kind of ratings do you expect when "The Game of the Week" is on a different night every week... or not at all some weeks....

[monstersoccerfreak]

Anyone know what ESPN gets in ratings for US National Team and Champs League for comparative purposes?