Hi all, Happy New Year! This will be the new thread for the 2015 season regarding everything related to MLS on TV. In this thread we can talk about schedules, tv slots, tv stations, tv contracts, general soccer ratings, other sports and TV shows ratings as relates to MLS and of course track and try to speak on MLS TV ratings week to week. The first few posts in this thread will be dedicated to data so that there is always an easy reference point for the historical information and then we can keep a running tab on the ratings in the thread as we did in previous seasons.
MLS 2014 Regular Season TV Ratings Summary Home teams listed first. All times are Eastern NBC Sports Network (all ratings for 2.5 hour window unless specified) Game 1: 330k (SEA vs KC) Saturday 3:00pm. 3/8/2014 Game 2: 171k (SEA vs TFC) Saturday 4:30pm. 3/15/2014 Game 3: 180k (RSL vs LA) Saturday 4:00pm 3/22/2014 Game 4: 157k (DC vs CHI) Saturday 4:00pm 3/29/2014 Game 5: 277k(POR vs SEA) Saturday 3:00pm 4/5/2014 Game 6: 171k (CHI vs NE) Saturday 4:00pm 4/19/2014 Game 7: 219k (KC vs CLB) Sunday 4:00pm 5/4/2014 Game 8: 219k (POR vs LA) Sunday 2:30pm 5/11/2014 Game 9: 79k (SJ vs LA) Saturday 10:30pm 6/28/2014 Game 10: 71k (NY vs HOU) Friday 8:30pm 7/4/2014 Game 11: 109k (POR vs LA) Friday 11:00pm 7/4/2014 Game 12: 69k (DC vs SJ) Friday 11:00pm 7/11/2014 Game 13: 103k (POR vs COLO) Friday 11:00pm 7/18/2014 Game 14: 67k (SJ vs CHI) Wednesday 10:30pm 7/23/2014 Game 15: 141k (KC vs PHI) Friday 8:00pm 8/1/2014 Game 16: 192k (SJ vs SEA) Saturday 10:30pm 8/2/2014 Game 17: 118k (LA vs SJ) Friday 10:30pm 8/8/2014 Game 18: 82k (HOU vs PHI) Friday 9:00pm 8/15/2014 Game 19: 183k (RSL vs SEA) Saturday 2:30pm 8/16/2014 Game 20: 121k (DAL vs RSL) Friday 9:00pm 8/22/2014 Game 21: 132k (KC vs HOU) Friday 8:00pm 8/29/2014* Game 22: 134k (DC vs NY) Sunday 2:30pm 8/31/2014 Game 23: 97k (LA vs COLO) Friday 10:30pm 9/5/2014 Game 24: 132k (NY vs KC) Saturday 7:30pm 9/6/2014 Game 25: 234k (SEA vs RSL) Friday 10:30pm 9/12/2014 Game 26: 191k (PHI vs NY) Saturday 3:00pm 9/13/2014 Game 27: 107k (RSL vs COLO) Friday 10:00pm 9/19/2014 Game 28: 132k (POR vs VAN) Saturday 5:00pm 9/20/2014 Game 29: 131k (NY vs SEA) Saturday 7:30pm 9/20/2014 Game 30: 118k (KC vs NE) Friday 3:00pm 9/26/2014 Game 31: 134k (DC vs PHI) Saturday 8:00pm 9/27/2014 Game 32: 143k (DC vs KC) Friday 8:00pm 10/3/2014 Game 33: 128k (NY vs HOU) Saturday 6:00pm 10/4/2014 Game 34: 111k (SJ vs POR) Saturday 11:00pm 10/4/2014 Game 35: 152k (SEA vs VAN) Friday 10:00pm 10/10/2014 Game 36: 110k (POR vs RSL) Friday 10:00pm 10/17/2014 Game 37: 76k (COLO vs DAL) Saturday 5:30pm 10/18/2014 Game 38: 50k (CHI vs HOU) Friday 8:00pm 10/24/2014 Average: 142k *1 hour 17 minute delay for weather during game ESPN2 (all ratings are for a 2.5 hour window unless specified) Game 1: 232k (KC vs NY) Tuesday 8:00pm 5/27/2014 Game 2: 269k (POR vs DAL) Wednesday 10:00pm 6/11/2014 Game 3: 426k (SEA vs POR) Sunday 10:30pm 7/13/2014 Game 4: 253k (PHI vs NY) Wednesday 7:00pm 7/16/2014 Game 5: 256k (KC vs LA) Saturday 6:00pm 7/19/2014 Game 6: 366k (SEA vs LA) Monday 10:00pm 7/28/2014 Game 7: 170k (RSL vs NY) Wednesday 9:00pm 7/30/2014 All Star Game: 862k (MLS vs Bayern Munich) Wednesday 9:30pm 8/6/2014 Game 8: 209k (POR vs SEA) Saturday 5:00pm 8/24/2014 Game 9: 233k (POR vs SJ) Sunday 4:30pm 9/7/2014 Game 10: 164k (NY vs DC) Wednesday 8:00pm 9/10/2014 Game 11: 127k (LA vs NY) Sunday 8:30pm 9/28/2014 Game 12: 140k (CHI vs PHI) Thursday 8:00pm 10/2/2014 Game 13: 168k (DAL vs LA) Sunday 7:00pm 10/12/2014 Game 14: 214k (LA vs SEA) Sunday 8:00pm 10/19/2014 Game 15: 148k (KC vs NY) Sunday 8:30pm 10/26/2014 Average: 225k (does not include all star game) ESPN(all ratings are for 2 hour window unless specified) Game 1: 495k (KC vs CHI) Sunday 3:00pm 7/6/2014 ESPNDeportes Average: 42k Unimas All Star Game: 410k (MLS vs Bayern Munich) Wednesday 9:30pm 8/6/2014 .11 Average for all regular season games NBC Game 1: (LA vs POR) Saturday 2:30pm 8/2/2014 Overnight: .33 Final: 409k Game 2: (SEA vs LA) Saturday 2:30pm 10/25/2014 Overnight: .59 Final: 699k Assorted Ratings from Canada http://forums.redpatchboys.ca/showthread.php?35785-2014-TFC-TV-ratings http://forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/mls-on-canada-tv.2011254/ https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/author/chris-zelkovich/
2014 MLS Playoff TV Ratings Summary NBCSN Game 1: 205k (RSL vs LA) Sat 8:00pm 11/1/2014 Game 2: 386k (SEA vs DAL) Mon 10:30pm 11/10/2014 Game 3: 267k (NE vs NY) Sat 1:30pm 11/29/2014 ESPN2 Game 1: 231k (NY vs KC) Thu 8:00pm 10/30/2014 Game 2: 353k (DAL vs SEA) Sun 9:00pm 11/2/2014 Game 3: 184k (NE vs COLU) Sun 5:00pm 11/9/2014 Game 4: 358k (LA vs RSL) Sun 7:00pm 11/9/2014 ESPN: Game 1: 365k (LA vs SEA) Sunday 5:00pm 11/23/2014 Game 2: 573k (SEA vs LA) Sunday 9:20pm 11/30/2014 NBC Game 1: .52 Overnight (DC vs NY) Sun 2:30pm 11/8/2014 607k viewers Game 2: .51 Overnight (NY vs NE) Sun 1:30pm 11/23/2014 550k viewers
MLS 2013 Regular Season TV Ratings Summary Home teams listed first. All times are Eastern NBC Sports Network (all ratings for 2.5 hour window unless specified) Game 0: 95k (RSL vs SEA) Saturday 7:30pm 2/23/2013* Game 1: 107k (HOU vs DC). Saturday 8:00pm. 3/2/2013 Game 2: 79k (CHI vs NE) Saturday 7:30pm 3/9/2013 Game 3: 82k (KC vs CHI) Saturday 3:00pm 3/16/2013 Game 4: 209k (SEA vs POR) Saturday 8:00pm 3/16/2013 Game 5: 97k (DC vs COLU) Saturday 3:30pm 3/23/2013 Game 6: 100k (NY vs PHI) Saturday 3:30pm 3/30/2013 Game 7: 41k (COLO vs RSL) Saturday 7:30pm 4/6/2013 Game 8: 86k (DAL vs LA) Saturday 3:30pm 4/13/2013 Game 9: 108k (POR vs SJ) Sunday 10:30pm 4/14/2013 Game 10: 58k (LA vs KC) Saturday 10:30pm 4/21/2013 Game 11: 53k (MON vs CHI) Saturday 4:00pm 4/27/2013 Game 12: 122k (COLU vs NY) Saturday 4:00pm 5/4/2013 Game 13: 51k (CHI vs PHI) Saturday 1:30pm 5/11/2013 Game 14: 80k (KC vs HOU) Sunday 3:30pm 5/26/2013 Game 15: 96k (NE vs LA) Sunday 4:00pm 6/2/2013 Game 16: 149k (SEA vs VAN) Saturday 10:30pm 6/8/2013 Game 17: 133k (POR vs COLO) Sunday 7:00pm 6/23/2013 Game 18: 123k (PHI vs DAL) Saturday 5:30pm 6/29/2013 Game 19: 173k (VAN vs SEA) Saturday 11:00pm 7/6/2013 Game 20: 126k (POR vs LA) Saturday 11:00pm 7/13/2013 Game 21: 94k (HOU vs CHI) Saturday 8:00pm 7/27/2013 Game 22: 83k (KC vs NY) Saturday 6:30pm 8/3/2013 Game 23: 58k (PHI vs DC) Saturday 8:00pm 8/10/2013 Game 24: 110k (NY vs PHI) Saturday 8:00pm 8/17/2013 Game 25: 133k (CHI vs KC) Friday 8:30pm 8/23/2013 Game 26: 171k (RSL vs POR) Friday 10:00pm 8/30/2013 Game 27: 67k (NY vs DC) Saturday 8:00pm 8/31/2013 Game 28: 102k (SEA vs CHI) Saturday 10:00pm 9/7/2013 Game 29: 177k (SEA vs RSL) Friday 10:00pm 9/13/2013 Game 30: 131k (POR vs COL) Friday 10:00pm 9/20/2013 Game 31: 247k (LA vs SEA) Saturday 10:00pm 9/21/2013 Game 32: 98k (KC vs PHI) Friday 8:00pm 9/27/2013 Game 33: 89k (DC vs CHI) Friday 8:00pm 10/4/2013 Game 34: 183k (COLO vs SEA) Saturday 10:00pm 10/5/2013 Game 35: 83k(KC vs DC) Friday 8:00pm 10/18/2013 Game 36: 189k (PHI vs KC) Saturday 3:00pm 10/26/2013 Game 37: 68k (SJ vs DAL) Saturday 5:30pm 10/26/2013 Average: 103k (does not include Game 0) * This was the Preseason Diamond Cup final. ESPN2 (all ratings are for a 2.5 hour window unless specified) Game 1: 221k (POR vs NY) Sunday 7:30pm 3/3/2013 Game 2: 179k (SJ vs NY) Sunday 10:00pm 3/10/2013 Game 3: 108k (DAL vs HOU) Sunday 1:00pm 3/17/2013 Game 4: 157k (CHI vs NY) Sunday 5:00pm 4/7/2013 Game 5: 170k (DC vs PHI) Sunday 5:00pm 4/21/2013 Game 6: 145k (LA vs HOU) Sunday 11:00pm 5/5/2013 Game 7: 250k (LA vs NY) Sunday 1:00pm 5/19/2013* Game 8: 191k (LA vs SEA) Sunday 11:00pm 5/26/2013 Game 9: 393k (NY vs HOU) Sunday 2:00pm 6/30/2013** Game 10: 138k (COLO vs LA) Saturday 7:00pm 7/27/2013*** All-Star Game: 319k (MLS vs Roma) Wednesday 7:00pm 7/31/2013 Game 11: 184k (DAL vs LA) Sunday 8:00pm 8/11/2013 Game 12: 346k (SEA vs POR) Sunday 10:00pm 8/25/2013 Game 13: 82k (SJ vs PHI) Sunday 11:00pm 9/8/2013* Average: 197k (does not include All Star Game) *Window was 128 minutes **Window was only 80 minutes due to Confed Cup game running long ***Window was 126 minutes ESPN(all ratings are for ~2 hour window). Game 1: 262k (POR vs DAL) Saturday 5:00pm 6/15/2013 Game 2: 323k (PHI vs NY) Sunday 5:00pm 6/23/2013 Game 3: 331k (CHI vs KC) Sunday 3:00pm 7/7/2013 Game 4: 300k (SEA vs NY) Sunday 9:00pm 9/29/2013 Game 5: 189k (POR vs SEA) Sunday 9:00pm 10/13/2013 Game 6: 232k (LA vs SJ) Sunday 9:00pm 10/20/2013 Game 7: 247k (SEA vs LA) Sunday 9:00pm 10/27/2013 Average: 269K ESPNDeportes Average: 32k Unimas 23 games: 223k average NBC Game 1: (NY vs DC) Saturday 12:30pm 3/16/2013 Overnight: .7 Final: .3, 461k Game 2: (POR vs LA) Sunday 3:30pm 9/29/2013 Overnight: .3* Game 3: (DAL vs SEA) Saturday 2:30pm 10/19/2013 Final: .3, 395k Game 4: (DC vs HOU) Sunday 1:30pm 10/27/2013 Final: .2, 294k *Not sure if this is overnight or the fast national rating
2013 MLS Playoff TV Ratings Summary NBCSN Game 1: 158k (SEA vs COL) Wed 10:30pm 10/30/2013 Game 2: 142k (HOU vs MTL) Thu 8:30pm 10/31/2013 Game 3: 114k (NE vs KC) Sat 8:00pm 11/2/2013 Game 4: 233k (SEA vs POR) Sat 10:00pm 11/2/2013 Game 5: 195k (POR vs SEA) Thursday 11:00pm 11/7/2013 Game 6: 241k (KC vs HOU) Saturday 7:30pm 11/23/2013 Average: 181k ESPN2 Game 1: 182k (RSL vs LA) Thursday 9:00pm 11/7/2013 ESPN Game 1: 296k (LA vs RSL) Sun 9:00pm 11/3/2013 Game 2: 302k (RSL vs POR) Sun 9:00pm 11/10/2013 Game 3: 271k (POR vs RSL) Sun 9:00pm 11/24/2013 ESPN/ESPN Average: 263k NBC Game 1: ? (NY vs HOU) Sun 3:30pm 11/3/2013 Game 2: ? (HOU vs KC) Sat 2:30pm 11/9/2013
2012 Regular Season TV Ratings Home teams listed first. All times are Eastern NBC Sports Network (all ratings for 2.5 hour window unless specified) Game 1: 82k (Dal vs NY). Sunday 3:00pm. 3/11/2012 Game 2: 124/145k (2.5 hour/two hour) (PHI vs COLO) Sunday 4:00pm. 3/18/2012 Game 3: 107k (2.5 hour) (SEA vs HOU) Friday 10:00pm 3/23/2012 Game 4: 76k (DC vs DAL) Friday 7:30pm 3/30/2012 Game 5: 123k (LA vs NE) Saturday 11:00pm 3/31/2012 Game 6: 126k/139k (2.5 hour/two hour) (PHI vs COLU) Saturday 4:00pm 4/14/2012 Game 7: 79k (CHI vs TOR) Saturday 3:30pm 4/21/2012 Game 8: 70k (NY vs NE) Saturday 3:30pm 4/28/2012 Game 9: 96k (SEA vs PHI) Saturday 4:00pm 5/5/2012 Game 10: 120k (HOU vs DC) Saturday 4:30pm 5/12/2012 Game 11: 71k (HOU vs LA) Saturday 2:30 5/26/2012 Game 12: 53k (KC vs SJ) Sunday 4:40 5/27/2012 Game 13: 63k (CHI vs NY) Sunday 5:00pm 6/17/2012 Game 14: 137k (NY vs DC) Sunday 7:00pm 6/24/2012 Game 15: 133k (KC vs CHI) Friday 8:00pm 6/29/2012 Game 16: 151k (SEA vs COLO) Saturday 11:00pm 7/7/2012 Game 17: 259k (POR vs LA) Saturday 11:00pm 7/14/2012 Game 18: 60k (SJ vs DAL) Wednesday 11:00pm 7/18/2012 Game 19: 392k (DAL vs LA) Saturday 8:00pm 7/28/2012 Game 20: 233k (PHI vs NE) Sunday 7:00pm 7/29/2012 Game 21: 148k (HOU vs NY) Friday 8:00pm 8/3/2012 Game 22: 405k (POR vs DAL) Sunday 7:00pm 8/5/2012 Game 23: 252k (NY vs HOU) Friday 8:00pm 8/10/2012 Game 24: 52k (COLU vs LA) Wednesday 7:00pm 8/15/2012* Game 25: 98k (DC vs PHI) Sunday 5:00pm 8/19/2012 Game 26: 40k (RSL vs PHI) Friday 7:30pm 8/24/2012 Game 27: 124k (DAL vs LA) Sunday 7:00pm 8/26/2012 Game 28: 121k (COLO vs POR) Friday 10:30pm 8/31/2012 Game 29: 143k (CHIV vs SJ) Sunday 9:00pm 9/2/2012 Game 30: 63k (DAL vs LA) Wednesday 9:00pm 9/5/2012 Game 31: 81k (KC vs HOU) Friday 8:30pm 9/14/2012 Game 32: 45k (RSL vs POR) Saturday 8:00pm 9/22/2012 Game 33: 94k (CHIC vs KC) Friday 8:30pm 9/28/2012 Game 34: 102k (VAN vs SEA) Saturday 9:00pm 9/29/2012 Game 35: 82k (LA vs RSL) Saturday 9:00pm 10/6/2012 Game 36: 101k (SEA vs RSL) Wednesday 10:00pm 10/17/2012 Game 37: 39k (HOU vs PHI) Saturday 7:30pm 10/20/2012 Game 38: 50k (KC vs PHI) Wednesday 8:30pm 10/24/2012 Game 39: 62k (CHI vs DC) Saturday 4:00pm 10/27/2012 Game 40: 101k (POR vs SJ) Saturday 6:30pm 10/27/2012 Average: 119k (includes just the 2.5 hour numbers) * This game overlapped with US @ Mexico friendly on ESPN2 and Univision 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) ESPN (all ratings are for a 2 hour window) Game 1: 217k (NY vs COLO) Sunday 4:00pm 3/25/2012 Game 2: 215k (KC vs LA) Saturday 4:00pm 4/7/2012* Game 3: 508k (LA vs NY) Saturday 8:00pm 5/5/2012 Game 4: 888k (POR vs SEA) Sunday 5:00pm 6/24/2012** Game 5: 496k (LA vs CHI) Sunday 3:00pm 7/8/2012 Game 6: 344k (NY vs SEA) Sunday 4:00pm 7/15/2012 Game 7: 611k (NY vs PHI) Saturday 2:30pm 7/21/2012 Game 8: 290k (POR vs SEA) Sunday 9:00pm 10/7/2012 Game 9: 211k (SEA vs DAL) Sunday 9:00pm 10/21/2012 Game 10: 265k (LA vs SEA) Sunday 9:00pm 10/28/2012 Average: 405k ESPN/ESPN2 Combined Ratings: 20 games, 318k *Was moved from ESPN2 to ESPN **Had a period of time in first half that overlapped with Italy England Euro QF. The 888k represents only the MLS portion of the telecast. It does not include any of the Euro OT or PK ratings. NBC Game 1: 576k (.4 rating) (POR vs SEA) Saturday 3:30pm 9/15/2012 Game 2: ? (.4 rating) (CHI vs NY) Saturday 3:30pm 10/6/2012* Game 3: ? (.3 rating) (PHI vs NY) Saturday 1:30pm 10/27/2012* *While I don't know the exact ratings of each, we do know that the average of these two games was in the 575k range. (all NBC and NBCSN games averaged out to 151k) Galavision (all ratings are for a 2 hour window) Game 1: 90k (CHIV vs HOU) Sunday 7:00pm 3/11/2012 Game 2: 77k (LA vs DC) Sunday 7:00pm 3/18/2012 Game 3: 24k (KC vs DAL) Sunday 7:00pm 3/25/2012 Game 4: 31k (COLO vs CHI) Sunday 7:00pm 4/1/2012 Game 5: 45k (CHI vs HOU) Sunday 7:00pm 4/15/2012 Game 6: 34k (DAL vs COLO) Sunday 7:00pm 5/6/2012 Game 7: 66k (SJ vs CHIV) Sunday 7:00pm 5/13/2012 Game 8: ?? (POR vs CHI) Sunday 7:00pm 5/20/2012 Game 9: 23k (PHI vs DC) Saturday 7:00pm 6/16/2012 Game 10: 47k (DAL vs CHIV) Saturday 9:00pm 6/23/2012 Game 11: 44k (TOR vs NY) Saturday 9:00pm 6/30/2012 Game 12: 52k (HOU vs DC) Sunday 9:00pm 7/15/2012 Game 13: 31k (PHI vs CHI) Sunday 7:00pm 8/12/2012 Game 14: 104k (NY vs POR) Sunday 7:00pm 8/19/2012 Game 15: 128k (NY vs DC) Wednesday 8:00pm 8/29/2012 Game 16: 93k (HOU vs CHI) Sunday 7:00pm 9/2/2012 Game 17: 81k (Chiv vs DC) Sunday 7:00pm 9/23/2012 Game 18: 53k (LA vs Colo) Sunday 7:00pm 9/30/2012 Game 19: 42k (CHIV vs DAL) Sunday 7:00pm 10/7/2012 Game 20: 57k (SJ vs LA) Sunday 7:00pm 10/21/2012 Game 21: 20k (DAL vs CHIV) Sunday 7:00pm 10/28/2012 Average: 57k (for 20 games) Telefutura All Star Game: 358k (MLS vs Chelsea) Wednesday 8:30 7/25/2012
2012 Playoff TV Ratings Playoffs Game 1: 201k (CHI vs HOU) Wed 9:00pm 10/31/2012 ESPN2 Game 2: 142k (LA vs VAN) Thu 10:30pm 11/1/2012 NBCSN Game 3: 137k (SEA vs RSL) Fri Nov 2 10:00 NBCSN Game 4: 158k (DC vs NY) Sat Nov 3 7:56 NBCSN Game 5: ? (HOU vs KC) Sun Nov 4 3:30 NBC Game 6: 335k (LA vs SJ) Sun Nov 4 9:00 ESPN Game 7: 93k (KC vs HOU) Wed Nov 7 9:05 NBCSN Game 8: 424k (SJ vs LA) Wed Nov 7 11:13 ESPN2 Game 9: 125k (NY vs DC) Thu Nov 8 7:30 NBCSN Game 10: 94k (RSL vs SEA) Thu Nov 8 10:00 NBCSN Game 11: 59k (HOU vs DC) Sun Nov 11 4:00 NBCSN Game 12: 540k (LA vs SEA) Sun Nov 11 8:00 ESPN Game 13: 111k (DC vs HOU) Sun Nov 18 4:00 NBCSN Game 14: 485k (SEA vs LA) Sun Nov 18 9:00 ESPN
Historical Data MLS Cup Through the Years 2014 Sun., 12/7/14 Galaxy/Revs ESPN: .61 964K Unimas: .48 698k Univision Deportes: .18 245k WatchESPN: 89k 2013 Sat., 12/7/13 Sporting/Real Salt Lake ESPN 505k, Unimas 514k 2012 Sat., 12/1/12 Galaxy/Dynamo ESPN 797k, Telefutura 485k 2011 Sun., 11/20/11 Galaxy/Dynamo ESPN 0.6 1.039M 2010 Sun., 11/21/10 Rapids/FC Dallas ESPN 0.4 748k 2009 Sun., 11/22/09 Real Salt Lake/Galaxy ESPN 0.7 1.141M 2008 Sun., 11/23/08 Crew/Red Bulls ABC 0.6 907k 2007 Sun., 11/18/07 Dynamo/Revolution ABC 0.8 1.097M 2006 Sun., 11/12/06 Revolution/Dynamo ABC 0.8 1.245M 2005 Sun., 11/13/05 Galaxy/Revolution ABC 0.8 1.137M 2004 Sun., 11/14/04 Wizards/United ABC 0.8 2003 Sun., 11/23/03 Fire/Earthquakes ABC 0.6 876K 2002 Sun., 10/20/02 Revolution/Galaxy ABC 0.8 1.169M 2001 Sun., 10/21/01 Galaxy/Earthquakes ABC 1.0 2000 Sun., 10/15/00 Fire/Wizards ABC 0.7 1999 Sun., 11/21/99 United/Galaxy ABC 0.7 1998 Sun., 10/25/98 Fire/United ABC 1.0 1997 Sun., 10/26/97 Rapids/United ABC 1.4 1996 Sun., 10/20/96 United/Galaxy ABC 1.4 2011 Final Ratings ESPN: 4 games: 498k ESPN2: 17 games: 238k ESPN/ESPN2 Combined: 21 games: 288k FSC: 29 games: 71k Galavision: 18 games: 72k Telefutura: 12 games 233K rating All Star Game vs Man United: 781k Wed 8:30pm July 27, 2011 on ESPN2 2010 Final Ratings ESPN2: 25 games 249K FSC: 25 games 53k Telefutura: 23 games 211k All Star Game vs Man United: 714k Wed July 28, 2010 on ESPN2 2009 Final Ratings ESPN2: 22 games 284k FSC: 32 game 53k Telefutura: 24 games 229k ESPN Deportes: 69k* All Star Game vs Everton: 484k Wed July 29, 2009 on ESPN2 *number is only through games played as of Sept 14, 2009. I do not know if this is a complete number 2008 Final Ratings ESPN2: 27 games 253k (dedicated Thursday night slot) Telefutura: 26 games 254k ESPN Deportes: 40k 2007 Final Ratings ESPN2: 26 games 289k (dedicated Thursday night slot) Telefutura: 24 games 282k 2006 Final Ratings ESPN2: 21 games 263k
Sources (while they last) http://forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/mls-2014-tv-thread-ratings-contracts-etc.1998719/ https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/mls-2013-tv-ratings.1980451/ http://www.tvmediainsights.com/2012/07/major-league-soccer-tv-ratings-in-2012/ http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/.../ESPN-Booting-MLS-From-Its-Thursday-Slot.aspx http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/02/AR2007050202740.html http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2011/10/26/Research-and-Ratings/MLS-TV.aspx http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/...LS-Attendance-TV-Viewership-Numbers-Slip.aspx http://www.rslsoapbox.com/2012/3/22...ruggles-on-nbc-sports-while-real-salt-lake-on http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2010/11/record-low-rating-for-2010-mls-cup/ http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2010/07/big-jump-for-mls-all-star-game/ https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/mls-tv-ratings.1845021/#post-24631720 https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/tv-ratings.1742835/page-6#post-2423303
Not to live in the past, but what was the overall feeling about the '14 season ratings, and how do you all see it going with the move back to the Fox/ESPN beast?
It was a mixed bag last season, some good some bad. It is concerning that the ESPN2 numbers refuse to move in a positive direction. I have no feel for how the new consistent time slots will do. I love the consistency, but I don't like the time slots in the fall.
I'll take the other opinion. I'll say I like the time slot, in general. It's just about the very best one they could have found, other than non-realistic scenarios. There's a lot of football on at that time because it's a good time slot. I've never seen the evidence that going up against the NFL hurts MLS ratings that much. Unfortunately for us, most MLS games don't have enough 'general interest' appeal to lose it to NFL games in the first place, and I think the people who are watching MLS regular season matches (playoffs, at least potentially, might become a different sort of issue) are the relatively-loyal, for whom the availability of other TV sports products is not necessarily the prime concern. The reason why I think this is just about the best is because I think it avoids four things MLS competes with more: 1) sleep 2) work 3) IRL activities like a social life and chores 4) other MLS games. And manages to do that in all 4 time zones. Before, with games generally on either Thursday or Saturday evenings, the games were often either pushing it in terms of being either too early for the Pacific time zone, or else too late for the Eastern. Also, the Saturday games were often in conflict with people attending a different MLS game, and those people are much more your sweet spot than the general NFL viewer. This way, the only people who have a conflict are the people attending the one other national TV game. All the people whose local teams were playing on Saturday don't have a conflict. The other one I skipped over, I think at 7PM or 8PM Saturday sees a lot of people getting ready and/or heading out to social engagements, in a way you don't see as much on Sunday evening. Too much earlier than that, though, and you've got people getting their shopping or housework done and such. And certainly if it were mid-afternoon Sunday you'd have that problem. On Sunday evenings, a lot more people are done with that stuff and ready to watch some TV a little earlier than other nights (note here: Sunday is the only night when network Prime Time starts at 7PM ET rather than 8).
Most of the lowest numbers come on Sunday night on ESPN2 in the fall. Some is due to NFL but more is due to TWD which crushes in the demo MLS covets.
since mls.live had come into the thread, can anyone tell me why i can't view archived games? i have an account, but when i click on 'watch replay' i get a screen telling me to check back for information on subscribing for next year, when it becomes available. i sent them an e-mail but didn't get an explanation yet.
Subscriptions run for a calendar year, no? Whatever new service they are setting for 2015 apparently is not available to subscribe to yet. As with many things, patience is required. Me personally, I want all things "2015" sorted out and available within the first week/weekend of the new year. My demands are not unreasonable. Could they have left the 2014 MLSLive archive open through all of the off-/pre-season or until they had the new service for the new year/season ready? Yes.
Does anyone think we've reached the point where as the league keeps expanding, that will actually lead to higher ratings? Will someone with a Neilsen box in a market like Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Northern California, or Long Island actually watch a game if they have a team?
I strongly doubt that time slot consistency(tsc) will have any impact at all in tv ratings. Tsc works well only when a program is sought after. And MLS games are not. And that's where we stand: MLS games are not deemed relevant by the prominent local tv/radio media. Once they become engaged and cover the games, it's then that we will start to see significant increases in ratings. But you know, I am glad we are finally testing the tsc waters this year, so that we can finally witness the futility of this experiment… and hopefully the following year put it behind us, move on and figure out how to properly tackle this challenge.
Sadly, there has been no correlation between expansion and ratings going up the past many years. Like consistent time slots, and better advertising by the broadcast partners, a larger national foot print should allow for a base from which ratings could see a modest rise but as others have pointed out, this rating problem is very complex and complicated. We could just as easily see the ratings go down or stay the same in the coming years.
yes, i was coming to the same conclusion. although subscriptions do not run for a calendar year as they haven't sold the 2015 package yet. it'd be best if one year's subscription rolled seamlessly into the next. but then, i'm probably the only dope that tried to catch up on a couple of 2014 games this weekend.
The whole "online rights package" is changing a bit, or significantly, in 2015 for MLS -- with ESPN purchasing the digital rights to the "non-national tv" game (or a significant portion of them, or whatever). When there was no real change/update from the 2013 season into 2014 season, the MLSLive subscription renewal process was indeed much simpler and automated and somewhat seamless. Whatever is coming out in 2015 will be new and likely somewhat different, so again that patience is required while they get it finalized and created and available to subscribers.
No problem. I did the attendance threads for years so this was the next logical step. I should note that as soon as I stopped doing the attendance threads, attendance started to go up and up and up..... Hmmmm, maybe that is the key to finally getting our ratings to go up...
ESPN to be broadcast to people without cable My title might be a little bit misleading basically you can buy an online cable package through sling tv, I do not know if it will include espn3 probably not but interesting. Article as a whole, how will tv ratings be affected by this?