The 2018 MLS TV Thread

Someone start the 2018 thread, there is already news!

The inaugural Battle of Los Angeles takes place Saturday March 31st at the StubHub Center on Fox! #LAGalaxy

— Mike Gray (@MikeGrayAFC) January 4, 2018

LA vs LA on big FOX on March 31 - what an AWFUL AWFUL idea. This will be a massive embarrassment. Only 1 media market will have a home team in this game, and that market is known for having awful TV ratings. I am EXTREMELY nervous about how awful this will likely end up.

 

It makes me think that the guys that decided to put this one on Fox watch very little soccer. They probably chose the LA Galaxy for its well known brand name not having a clue that they were one of the worst teams in the league last season. Against LA FC which could turn out to be a good team but for now is just a huge question mark. How many people will LA FC attract to the stadium? Will it draw the loyal former Chivas USA supporters? No one knows.
Lest i sound too negative, every season of course is different and it is possible that the Galaxy could hit the new season revving on all cylinders..

 

This is bound to be good for MLS's TV ratings:

Another national TV note:

Five of the games slated for Fox’s over-the-air broadcast network will be televised immediately after World Cup games, including Atlanta-Seattle on July 15 after the final.

— Jonathan Tannenwald (@thegoalkeeper) January 4, 2018

 

WOW. Double header with the final featuring two of MLS' most picturesque teams is going to set an unbeatable ratings record. Fox really has been a tremendous partner.

 

Perhaps the most notable thing about the ratings record will be the massive drop off between the WC Final and the MLS game.. There is going to be a good hour of buffer between the games to allow for extra time, PKs, award ceremony, and post-game show.

 

Any event that doesn't involve the NFL would have a massive dropoff from the WC Final...

 

I agree--i mean if you are MLS you really cant ask more from a tv partner than having them schedule 5 doubleheaders in which the lead in is a world cup game. Of course there will be a drop-off, not everyone will want to watch MLS, but i have to believe that there will be some gain in ratings for the league. I wonder how many people will watch an MLS game just out of the "laziness" factor--i.e. not bothering to switch the channel after the world cup game is done.

 

All of our ratings records have come from good lead-ins (or Beckham debuts). We never had a lead-in as good as this. It will be huge, and we will forever talk about highest-rated games that did not occur during the World Cup after this when talking about TV ratings.

And yes, I still think LA vs LA will be a flop.

 

To me, this biggest news from today is this:

• ESPN will air 28 games (three more than last season)
• Univision will air 14 games on Saturday afternoons (eight more than last season)

Having fewer matches on ESPN2 and/or UniMas while moving those same matches to the respective motherships on those networks is an objectively positive development.

 

While LA might have bad ratings, it’s a national game. The appeal is to people outside the LA market.

Thx,

Jay!

 

LOVING all those 9pm EST and later Sunday Night matches!!!!!

 

We'll find out in 2022 if this is true or not

 

7 games on FOX, I believe that's an increase from 2017 (4)

 

Although I often disagree vehemently with some of their opinions, one of the cool things that they track at YouAreTheRef.com is how many "TV matches" Premier League referees get each season. It makes sense: your best referees should be on the showcase games. I think I'll try to track that this season.

 

I think the LA VS LA game is a great idea. It will be the first edition of what will probably be a great rivalry. Plus the Galaxy are the most recognizable MLS team to casual fans and the team that most MLS fans love to hate. Outside of Atlanta most expansion teams aren't that good out of the gate so the fact that the Galaxy are in a slump might level the playing field. Or the Galaxy stomp them like Atlanta did to the Loons in the snow last year or the 7-0 NY derby, both were fun to watch.

 

[threadjack]

Please make MLS Live available in the UK!!!!

[/threadjack]

 

Nah!

It has Vela and Gio, so maybe ESPN Deportes will get a decent rating.

 

You could probably access it using a VPN and US postal address.

 

I could also want to support the product officially, but I can't do both.

 

Send me the money, I'll apply it to my account and make a note that you're funding the purchase and supporting the MLS product officially in 2018.

You'll still be on your own for doing that vpn thing wherever you are.

 

Reminiscent of Chivas v LA!

Yes, Atlanta is the new Seattle

 

LAFC isn't Chivas.

 

And Galaxy vs Chivas had some great intense moments, though the rivalry was a tad one sided.

 

That time Jesse Marsch tackled Becks at about nipple level and only got a yellow card. That game was hilarious.