ESPN2 - 82.6M as of 12/01 ESPN - 85.9M as of 12/01 http://www.ncta.com/industry_overview/programList.cfm
Treeware fails us again... Serves me right for getting figures out of an object made of pressed wood pulp.
Did I forget winky protection? kenn and I were just trying to get all the cliches out at once so we didn't have to search through the thread for them.
Sorry for being picky, but MLS/SUM and ESPN/espn2 don't have a time-buy relationship. MLS/SUM and ESPN/espn2 share revenues (no idea who gets what percent) from the soccer telecasts so MLS/SUM doesn't buy time to put soccer on ESPN/espn2. If the percentage was 50/50 (which I'm not saying it is), then ESPN/espn2 would have to make ad revenue to cover air time plus a profit for them to want to continue the relationship. No idea if this is the case. I believe that ABC soccer airings are time buys.
The key is expanding into some key markets. Philly, Houston, San Diego, Seattle , come to mind. Gradually grow the ratings and get a tv contract that pays real money. That's the key to MLS surviving.
I don't agree, respectfully. I don't subscribe to the "footprint" theory, and I don't necessarily believe that MLS can't survive without a TV contract that pays it megabucks. And if it can't survive without a TV contract that pays it megabucks, it's not going to survive, because I don't believe that contract is out there.