Soccer TV Ratings: Part 2 (MLS, EPL, WCQ, International Soccer, Etc)

stingbee30 · Jul 17, 2012

This thread will focus on Soccer Ratings going forward for the rest of the year...

We will start with a Bang for MLS on NBCSPN...

LA-Portland @MLS match on Sat. night was most-watched MLSonNBC game to date (256k viewers)...more than triple the FSC 2011 season avg of 68k.

This shows that MLS is finally getting the traction on NBCSPN. The last few weeks, NBCSPN was trending higher, and finally with this breakout game. This is for the whole-match. The match-window was probably around 270K-275K. We have 5 more MLS games scheduled around the Olympics. I expect the trends to stay intact for the next few games ( i will exclude this Wednesday's game from that equation...)

MLSFan123 · Jul 17, 2012

MLS is having a great season so far on tv. Long way to go of course but the trend is promising.

MLS to date this season is averaging more viewers on the ESPN(s) than the EPL did.

And NBCSN seems to be picking up after a slow start. The 4 highest rated games of the season on NBCSN have been the last 4.

Fulham9 · Jul 17, 2012

MLSFan123 said: ↑

MLS is having a great season so far on tv. Long way to go of course but the trend is promising.

MLS to date this season is averaging more viewers on the ESPN(s) than the EPL did.
Click to expand...

Is it really a positive that MLS is averaging more viewers (barely) for prime time / weekend afternoon matches than a product whose start times were 7:45am ET Saturday mornings and Monday afternoons?

stingbee30 · Jul 17, 2012

They are not competing against each other....Both EPL and MLS feed from each other...We have many fans who enjoy and support both leagues. As EPL finds more traction in the US market, it is also good for the state of Football in this country. EPL's marquee matches are still more attractive than a marquee MLS match. This is expected because EPL is the best Club Football league.

On the flip side, MLS is tracking better on ESPN and now NBCSPN this season. It is pretty clear that MLS averages better on ESPN vs. ESPN2. I expect decent ratings during the Olympics for NBCSPN (5 games scheduled during that time)...ESPN should pull another decent rating this Saturday for MLS (preceded by British Open on ESPN)

MLSFan123 · Jul 17, 2012

Fulham9 said: ↑

Is it really a positive that MLS is averaging more viewers (barely) for prime time / weekend afternoon matches than a product whose start times were 7:45am ET Saturday mornings and Monday afternoons?
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It's the first time that it has happened so yes I would say it is a positive.

I will never understand why EPL fans are so scared of MLS that they have to denigrate every step forward the league makes. Kind of sad in a way but to each his own I guess.

EPL just had their best season ever on the ESPN's so this is a nice trend for all soccer fans whether you are a hater or just want to see soccer grow in all forms in the US.

MLSFan123 · Jul 17, 2012

stingbee30 said: ↑

They are not competing against each other....Both EPL and MLS feed from each other...We have many fans who enjoy and support both leagues. As EPL finds more traction in the US market, it is also good for the state of Football in this country. EPL's marquee matches are still more attractive than a marquee MLS match. This is expected because EPL is the best Club Football league.
Click to expand...

Sadly for some people who are so closed minded they seem to fear that if MLS makes any progress it is some how an affront to their manhood of supporting the EPL.

I subscribe to the rising tide can lift multiple boats theory.

Paulo2 · Jul 17, 2012

256k? That's amazing! Is there a reason for this big jump? What was the lead-in?

Anyway thanks stingbee30. It would be great if you could edit your first post and put a link to the first soccer ratings thread so it will be easy to find in the future.

coracaodoporto · Jul 17, 2012

Paulo2 said: ↑

256k? That's amazing! Is there a reason for this big jump? What was the lead-in?

Anyway thanks stingbee30. It would be great if you could edit your first post and put a link to the first soccer ratings thread so it will be easy to find in the future.
Click to expand...

Lead in was just the Tour de France highlight show and the game started well after 11pm eastern time.

MLSFan123 · Jul 17, 2012

coracaodoporto said: ↑

Lead in was just the Tour de France highlight show and the game started well after 11pm eastern time.
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The Tour De France has been drawing well for NBCSN, so even though this was just a highlight show it was probably a semi decent lead in (at least semi decent for NBCSN).

MLS two highest rated games on NBCSN have come after 11:00pm Eastern.

Being in prime time, or a weekend afternoon time slot, is not always the best solution it appears, even if that is counter intuitive. Sometime playing in prime time or in the middle of a weekend afternoon soccer will experience a ton of sporting competition (both local and national) in which their are only so many eye balls to go around.

BOSNAINTER · Jul 17, 2012

MLSFan123 said: ↑

It's the first time that it has happened so yes I would say it is a positive.

I will never understand why EPL fans are so scared of MLS that they have to denigrate every step forward the league makes. Kind of sad in a way but to each his own I guess.

EPL just had their best season ever on the ESPN's so this is a nice trend for all soccer fans whether you are a hater or just want to see soccer grow in all forms in the US.
Click to expand...

they are not only scared because of mls but la liga and serie a also. that is how epl stays on top thye can't stand that they are not a main event in news or field or what ever sothey degrade other leagues and call it fluke or it is not impressive 265k viewers. epl is same as nfl and if you want other leagues to flurish you have to fight epl propaganda because if you don't you will always be second to epl. i can't stand epl i don't watch it and i also can't stand the lies how popular it is around the world.

Paulo2 · Jul 17, 2012

New York Red Bulls vs. Seattle Sounders: 344K tuned into ESPN on Sunday afternoon (source).

Top six shows on NBCSN last week were Tour de France-related. MLS was the 7th. (source)

MLSFan123 · Jul 17, 2012

Here is a link to every MLS rating so far this year. We track this on the MLS NA board.

https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/mls-tv-ratings.1914571/page-71#post-26060923

stingbee30 · Jul 23, 2012

World Football Challenge...

Seattle vs Chelsea pulls 385k on ESPN2 (last Wednesday)(nothing for ESPNDeportes, but probably like 50K-70K area)
FC Dallas vs. San Jose almost around the same time pulls about 60K on NBCSPN
LA Galaxy was playing Vancouver during that time as well...(pulled some local fans from other matches)

stingbee30 · Jul 23, 2012

http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2012/07/2012-att-mls-all-star-game-on-espn2-on-wednesday/

2012....The highest rated MLS season to date on ESPN/ESPN2....

Major League Soccer’s most-watched season on ESPN/ESPN2:
Through the 2012 MLS All-Star Game, Major League Soccer matches on ESPN and ESPN2 have been seen by an average audience of 345,000 viewers (261,000 household impressions), reflecting an increase of 12 percent in viewers and nine percent in television homes from the same period in 2011. This marks the most-watched MLS season on cable television, thus far.

The top five markets for Major League Soccer on ESPN-ESPN2 are: Portland (0.5), New York (0.5), Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News, Va. (0.5), San Diego (0.4), and Greensboro-High Point, N.C. (0.4).
- 30 -

EvanJ · Jul 24, 2012

The third, fourth, and fifth markets on that list don't even have MLS clubs.

stingbee30 · Jul 24, 2012

Another Massive day for MLS on ESPN...

Last Saturday's match between NY vs. Phi was watched by 611k on ESPN...Great numbers...It is pretty much a fact now that a preceding strong programing helps the bottom line...

The British Open 3rd round on ESPN (Saturday) averaged over 3.5 million viewers....

Lithium858 · Jul 25, 2012

EvanJ said: ↑

The third, fourth, and fifth markets on that list don't even have MLS clubs.
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LOL that's true. San Diego should have a MLS team though lol

stingbee30 · Jul 27, 2012

Olympic Soccer update...

NBCSPN: 630K viewers tuned to watch US Women's play against France....This doesn't count the repeats, and MSNBC showing a condensed replay of the game the next day....

tab5g · Jul 27, 2012

stingbee30 said: ↑

Olympic Soccer update...

NBCSPN: 630K viewers tuned to watch US Women's play against France....This doesn't count the repeats, and MSNBC showing a condensed replay of the game the next day....
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The game was also on the Specialty Olympic Soccer channel (a few times), although I don't know who would have opted for that viewing source if NBCSN was likely also available to them. (and I'm guessing NBC Olympic Live Extra online got a decent amount of viewers for this weekday daytime match as well.)

stingbee30 · Jul 27, 2012

Some more updates...

1 MLS All Star game scored 530K viewers on ESPN2...(below my expectations, lower than last year, however facing some dilution from NBCSPN Olympic Soccer replay on Wednesday night)
2) AS Roma vs. Liverpool scored 317k viewers...

Summer Olympics Pre-Games (NBC Sports Network)
1) -11:30 AM: 0.414 million viewers, 0.14 A18-49 (meaning starting from 11:30 am - 6:00 pm EST)
2) -6 PM: 0.351 million viewers, 0.14 A18-49 (the replay starting from 6:00 pm EST)...

This means when MLS All Star game started, we had about 350K or so viewers watching the Olympic Soccer replay on NBCSPN as well...

To suffice, we had about 880k viewers watching soccer on ESPN2 and NBCSPN at the same time. This doesn't include the numbers from Telefutura (I assume another 250K-350K watching MLS All Star game on the Spanish platform)...So, at 8:30 pm (EST), we were averaging something like 1.1-1.2 million viewers watching Soccer at the same time on ESPN2, NBCSPN, Telefutura.

huhe888 · Jul 28, 2012

Lithium858 said: ↑

LOL that's true. San Diego should have a MLS team though lol
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San Diego has a first division team:

Club Tijuana Xolos - Liga MX

stingbee30 · Jul 31, 2012

MLS and Olympic update...

Olympics are definitely helping MLS on NBCSPN...

1) Almost 400k watching MLS on NBCSPN on Saturday...
-8 PM: 0.392 million viewers, 0.13 A18-49 (New RECORD for NBCSPN coverage of MLS)

2) MLS Regular Season (NBC Sports Network) on Sunday
-7:06 PM: 0.233 million viewers, 0.08 A18-49 (3rd highest rated MLS game on NBCSPN)

Sunday:
MSNBC averaged 1.4 million (0.5 rating) for coverage starting @ 12:00 pm (EST) and same for NBCSPN starting @ 12:00 PM (I think NBCSPN focused on other sports)...MSNBC was showing MEN's Soccer game

stingbee30 · Jul 31, 2012

Saturday Women's Soccer on MSNBC

Summer Olympics (MSNBC) Saturday's games
-7 AM-12:00 PM EST: 0.693 million viewers, 0.22 A18-49

-12 PM-6:00 PM EST: 1.573 million viewers, 0.55 A18-49 (The US Women's Soccer match was seen in this slot....This is for the whole time slot...I assumed the Women's match was seen by 2 million or so on MSNBC.

Summer Olympics (MSNBC)...Men's Soccer game on Sunday
-7 AM-12:00 PM EST: 0.733 million viewers, 0.27 A18-49 (the 12:00 PM Slot-5:00 PM slot averaged about 1.4 million viewers on MSNBC

International Soccer Friendly (ESPN2)
-1 PM-3:00 pm: 0.158 million viewers, 0.05 A18-49
World Football Challenge (ESPN2)
-6:30-8:30 PM: 0.195 million viewers, 0.09 A18-49

Both matches were deeply impacted by Olympics and Olympic Soccer....

Twix1138 · Jul 31, 2012

USA vs Columbia women's soccer on NBCSN got 2.5 million viewers. To put it in perspective, the men's basketball game vs France got 2.6 million viewers.

source- NBCSPORTSPR twitter account

superdave · Jul 31, 2012

Fulham9 said: ↑

Is it really a positive that MLS is averaging more viewers (barely) for prime time / weekend afternoon matches than a product whose start times were 7:45am ET Saturday mornings and Monday afternoons?
Click to expand...

Yes.