Major League Soccer and Versus in Early Talks

Re: MLS tv ratings on ESPN2 down 23 percent

Right, I think it's only in the last year or two when this entered the realm of the plausible. For the first couple years it looked like the NHL deal might be mostly a failure for both the NHL and the channel, but it looks like it has finally kicked in to grow distro and ratings for the channel.

It's owned by Comcast, so there might be room for some synergies there, since Comcast and affiliated RSN channels show some of the individual teams' games.

Still, generally I find that the treatment of, and respect for, MLS by FSC in recent years has trended upward, so I wouldn't mind if we stuck with a relationship that could continue to grow. (As long as they pay the fee, that is.) Not a big fan of their production value, but that too is growing over time, and there's not necessarily a reason to believe Vs/Comcast would be so much better.

(In fact, Comcast also owns NBC now/soon, right? So in line with what tab5g has written, one of the synergies might be a possible future WC bid.)

 

Re: MLS tv ratings on ESPN2 down 23 percent

I'd have no problem with Vs. stepping in to fill (and improve upon) HDnet's MLS vacancy as a 4th national broadcaster. again, that assumes Vs has that interest in being a paying broadcast partner with MLS/SUM.

there's no real reason, in my mind, why SUM/MLS couldn't have national broadcast deals with all of Disney/Univision/Fox/Comcast(Vs.), as for a few years there, SUM/MLS had national broadcast deals with all of Disney/Univision/Fox/HDnet.


and, as you note, if NBC (if they're bought by Comcast) does want to get involved with soccer (and FIFA rights specifically) having some MLS coverage on Vs will/should certainly help their cause, it would appear.

either way, more and more companies being involved with soccer (and paying larger and larger rights fees for broadcast rights) is a very good thing.

NBC's bid to Fifa was an encouraging thing (even for MLS). it forced Disney and Univision to both up their bids to Fifa and to up their involvement with MLS/SUM (thanks to FIFA broad approach to the game in this market).

 

Re: MLS tv ratings on ESPN2 down 23 percent

a very reasonable post.

and as for that last point, I completely agree. and the title of this thread is rather misleading. "ratings" are consistent -- as far as I can tell at the household level. but early in this season it is the persons (viewership) average number (or estimate as the case may be with Nielsen) that is "down 23 percent" when compared to the 2009 full-season viewership average.

MLS ratings are what they are. (yet the business of the league continues to grow -- perhaps in no small part because of FIFA's positive involvement and reinforcement.)

 

Re: MLS tv ratings on ESPN2 down 23 percent

The advantage that Vs has over FSC is that Vs is available on the regular cable package in most cases, while FSC is usually part of the sports tier. That's a huge advantage.

The other promising development (in addition to Comcast purchasing NBC) is the idea of building Vs up into a national competitor for ESPN. Even if it's a weak competitor, that's a good thing for MLS.

 

Re: MLS tv ratings on ESPN2 down 23 percent

Unless things have changed recently that's not completely accurate. 2 years ago when I was a Cox subscriber I had to get the higher package to get both FSC and Vs. Now that I'm on Comcast (which owns Vs.) I get Vs. as part of the standard expanded basic. For a few months recently you couldn't even get Vs. on DirectTV.

 

Re: MLS tv ratings on ESPN2 down 23 percent

I know Versus doesn't have the distribution of ESPN, but it's miles better than FSC. (Is there any provider that gives FSC as a 'normal' channel outside of a sports tier?) Something is better than nothing.

Sure, Comcast includes it because they own it - but Comcast also has a huge number of subscribers. The Versus/DirecTV spat was because DirecTV wanted to move the channel to a sports tier, and Vs wanted to stay in the more widely distributed package. Versus eventually got to stay once they worked out the finances.

To the earlier points about production values, Versus has done a very nice job with the NHL after a rocky start.

 

Re: MLS tv ratings on ESPN2 down 23 percent

MLS would be silly not to go to versus...they would see promotion to college basketball, football, MMA, cycling, Hockey, sailing, bull riding, minor league baseball, and basketball.

I wonder how many mls fans would be mad when the nhl playoffs are on...and for a period versus has an AD on the glass for the up coming MLS match.

 

Re: MLS tv ratings on ESPN2 down 23 percent

As opposed to the promotion to college basketball, football, basketball, major league baseball, college baseball, auto racing, and the EPL they get now on ESPN? Or the promotion they get to other soccer fans on FSC?

 

Re: MLS tv ratings on ESPN2 down 23 percent

1. They are on espn until 2014....however a poster in a diff. forum here said ESPN can put the contract under review after this year..so they are still on ESPN.

2. do you really think the soccer fans on FSC care? MLS is getting 58K viewers per game there...that is nothing....versus guarantees the product is in more homes....

Versus growing extremely fast...MLS is averaging 193K veiwers in 2010 on ESPN2.....I don't understand this fear that MLS can't survive without ESPN..which pays 8 mil a year..that is nothing.

MLS needs to get there product built on local RSNs anyways...oh well

 

Re: MLS tv ratings on ESPN2 down 23 percent

that's true, but mls still has to make its choices about the tv exposure that would be best. the rest will follow with time...
imo at this point mls isn't a good fit on espn, and i'd be happy if they could migrate to vs (although i know, it's really the fsc contract that's up).
espn live sports are of two sorts: top-class major league, or stuff like ncaa volleyball and softball. on the espn menu, mls is neither fish nor fowl.
vs, otoh, imo is more like the niche destination for the niche sport. and now that the nhl finally seems to have gotten traction, mls could ride those coattails.
i don't resent that espn doesn't do more for mls, whatever it may be. although i get the feeling that their efforts on behalf of mls are perfunctory, i must say i can't blame them.
i hope there isn't a factor of self-flattery about the mere fact of being on espn among mls fans or, worse, in the league office. mls just isn't a espn-type product, imo.

 

Re: MLS tv ratings on ESPN2 down 23 percent

Hmm, who's likely to be more interested in MLS. Soccer fans or bull riding fans...

 

Re: MLS tv ratings on ESPN2 down 23 percent

I understand your premise.

however Soccer fans will go out of there way to get FSC...


like hockey fans will go get versus even if they have to pay more.

maybe MLS can keep FSC and go to versus.

however exposing yourself to 54-58K MLS fans on FSC isn't much differnt then exposing your product to double the amount of homes.

and it's pretty clear with Comcast buying NBC/Universal that versus will be in more homes over the next couple of years.

 

Re: MLS tv ratings on ESPN2 down 23 percent

You remember when TLC used to stand for The Learning Channel? Remember when Spike used to be The Nashville Network?



Times change. Channels change. Hairstyles change. Interest rates fluctuate.

 

Re: MLS tv ratings on ESPN2 down 23 percent

Agreed, but Sportsfan1 specifically mentioned the opportunity to advertising during bull riding as a reason Vs. was a better option than FSC.

 

Re: MLS tv ratings on ESPN2 down 23 percent

If you read the Broadcasting and Cable article "between the lines", you would have figured out the real reason why MLS is talking to Versus:

FOX Sports International has essentially told MLS that FSI will NOT offer MLS a rights fee to renew MLS Saturday in 2011.

That has been my suspicion for several months after seeing the average viewership for MLS Saturday on FSC stagnate at below 100,000 viewers for 3 seasons (2007-2009). The 2010 season won't get much better.

I checked with a long-time industry source today. He confirmed my suspicion.

MLS really has no choice by to shop the Saturday package around to Versus (and possibly other parties). FSI won't pay $2 million each season for the package after 2010.

(The other domestic products on FSC that draw similar viewership compared to MLS, i.e. NSCAA, WPS, and USL, all have to pay FSI for TV time.)

==

The NHL went through this when ESPN, Inc. told the NHL "no more rights fee" when the lockout ended in 2005. The NHL went to Comcast and got a deal done to go to OLN (now Versus).

If Versus were willing to pay MLS $2 million/season, MLS would be crazy not to make the jump from FSC to Versus.

 

Re: ESPN ratings down 23%

FWIW, Versus just set a high mark with NHL on cable last night.

http://www.sportsmediawatch.blogspot.com/

Versus has certainly come a long way in a realitively short amount of time with the NHL. Perhaps the same could happen with MLS.

 

Re: ESPN ratings down 23%

The increase in the NHL numbers mostly has to do with the two teams in the final.

 

Re: ESPN ratings down 23%

What negotiating ploy?

Unless MLS were willing to buy time again, FSC will be rid of MLS after this November. My long-time industry source made it very clear to me that FSI overpaid for MLS for 2007-2010 and will NOT do that again.

FSC has no need for MLS, and vice versa, now that FSC will have access to content from Premier League TV to fill TV time.

If Versus were willing to offer $2 million a year to MLS for the MLS Saturday Night package, MLS would be foolish not take the money.

 

Re: ESPN ratings down 23%

huhe, you might be right, but your track record suggests that skepticism is OK, too.

 

Re: ESPN ratings down 23%

Which is the most important observation IMO. But will someone pay for that audience?