just seems a bit odd that every single ESPN rating is down by double digits yet the NBCSN ratings are basically the same as last year. It looks like all of the Beckham/LA bandwagon fans have completely tuned out of MLS. You could expect LA to always get somewhat decent ratings, but not anymore. 145K is what I'd expect from a Chivas/Canadian match.
People have to keep in mind its early in terms of MLS average ratings trends MLS ratings tend to go up as we head into the heart of summer as other Pro leagues die down and it just has baseball to compete against. It has nothing to do with Becks.
That was not true last year on ESPN2. The two best ratings were the two earliest ones ESPN2 (all ratings are for a 2 hour window) Game 1: 337k (POR vs PHI) Monday 9:30pm 3/12/2012 Game 2: 344k (DC vs NY) Sunday 6:00pm 4/22/2012 Game 3: 275k (PHI vs NY) Sunday 12:30pm 5/13/2012 Game 4: 146k (CHIV vs LA) Saturday 10:30pm 5/19/2012 Game 5: 213k (HOU vs Dal) Saturday 7:30pm 6/16/2012 Game 6: 320k (SJ vs LA) Saturday 10:00pm 6/30/2012 All Star Game: 530k (MLS vs Chelsea) Wednesday 8:30 7/25/2012 Game 7: 270k (SEA vs LA) Sunday 9:00pm 8/5/2012 Game 8: 163k (CHIV vs LA) Sunday 11:00pm 8/12/2012 Game 9: 130k (NY vs KC) Sunday 9:00pm 8/26/2012 Game 10: 125k (PHI vs DCU) Thursday 8:00pm 9/20/2012 Average: 232k (does not include all star game)
In an almost identical time slot last year at a similar time of the year, LA vs Chivas put up an almost identical 146k. Game 4: 146k (CHIV vs LA) Saturday 10:30pm 5/19/2012
A rematch of the last two MLS Cups is the second lowest rated MLS game on ESPN 2. The lowest is a Texas rivalry game... Proof that MLS fans tune in on a random basis vs to see a particular team, or a big matchup?
I am not sure if it is the Beckham effect or not, but the numbers for ESPN2 are down So far in 2013 6 games 163.3K average Now last year despite the numbers being the lowest since who knows when, we did have a bunch of games on ESPN1, so we could argue that if those games (usually more marketable) were on the 2 that would have helped the final number. But this year, I think we only had 1 ESPN game so we can not use that excuse.
A positive is that we are not really comparing apples to apples between 2012 and 2013. We are using a 2.5 hour for 2013, the years prior we were using a 2 hour window right? So naturally ratings would be down a little (but that would not explain the drop of about 60K+)
I think 0 ESPN games so far. First one will be on Sunday May 12 between Houston and KC. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...l-tv-schedule-includes-87-matches-us-networks
That's something that is worrying for me. I can understand fans, especially out of market fans not watching some random matchup, say Chi vs NY in large numbers, but when not many care about the matchup between the MLS Cup participants from last year?
And I've also said that's not a good time slot, yet have been attacked for it. You can't in one hand say it's an ok time slot, then turn around and dismiss the low ratings. And that isn't directed at you inparticular. Either way, you'd still expect the MLS Cup rematch to do a bit better. It is after all what should be considered the top two teams(from 5-6 months ago) in the league facing off.
I see you've changed your story from people saying it was a good time slot to people saying it was an OK time slot, which people still didn't say but its closer to accurate. What people said was that it was an acceptable time slot for TV since it was a West Coast game.
That's being a bit ridiculous. Saying ok instead of good isn't changing my story, nor does it change the point and you know that, as if there's some huge difference between saying something is good vs saying something is ok. Replace ok with good if you like, point still stands.
You love to argue. Just nitpick anyone who disagrees with your personal thoughts. Ok, let's play this game. Go back and quote and all the people on your side of the argument who used the exact wording "an acceptable time slot for TV since it was a West Coast game", since that's what you said multiple people actually typed. Not similar mind you, exact wording. Multiple posters. We can do this if you'd rather argue exact wording than the actual point.
Just as soon as you go back and quote the people you keep claiming called the 11:00pm EDT time slot good as opposed to necessary or workable.
please take the sniping to pm's if possible. This is one of the few threads that does not get douched up normally.
I think we just need to accept that the MLS ratings are going to be flat till the level of play goes higher.
I put the information from Ceezmad and MLSFan123 below which isolates the ESPN2 data because I think it's interesting. It clearly shows a slow sinking of ratings since 2009. I suspect the decline this year it won't be as dramatic as it appears when we look at the year end numbers, but it wouldn't surprise me if they don't drop from last years 232k average -- the fifth year of ratings decline in a row. It's hardly a crisis -- as many of you have pointed out a lot of different things go into the pricing decisions when they contracts are renewed, especially for broadcasters looking for content -- but it's a mild concern IMO that we now have a five year trend where the ESPN2 ratings each year have been lower than the year before. This despite a lot of new markets, new stadiums and DPs. MLS on ESPN2 2013 YTD Ratings ESPN2: 6 games: 163.3K average 2012 Final Ratings ESPN2: 10 games: 232k 2011 Final Ratings ESPN2: 17 games: 238k 2010 Final Ratings ESPN2: 25 games 249K 2009 Final Ratings ESPN2: 22 games 284k 2008 Final Ratings ESPN2: 27 games 253k (dedicated Thursday night slot) 2007 Final Ratings ESPN2: 26 games 289k (dedicated Thursday night slot) 2006 Final Ratings ESPN2 21 games 263k