The 2022 MLS TV thread

Isn’t this the $100 billion question?

RSNs are the heart of local sports TV distribution. People watch their home teams on them.

This question has to be asked in terms of the broader pay TV market. Bundled vs. a la carte. How many people will pay separate fees for just the RSN, and will doing so raise or lower end user total cost? I may be paying more for each channel/streamer, but I will likely buy fewer of them.

The alternative, which seems to be happening is the streamer becomes a mini-bundle itself. Apple, Paramount+ and Peacock seem to be going this route. Disney is taking a different tack with Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+… maybe a little closer to a la carte. Each package has a different focus.

Another aspect is some RSNs have very long term contracts with local teams, or the team has ownership stakes in the RSN.

And then there is Sinclair with their streaming proposal.

 

FYP

 

ESPN+ just took over 30 minutes to get audio working on the 2. Bundesliga match between Dusseldorf and Paderborn. They didn't get video working until after the 1st goal of the match was scored. Apple+ is a gamble, but ESPN+ is a service that is both raising prices and getting much worse over time.

Edit: Just as I hit enter the entire feed went down again.

 

I was just going to say that but seems Forbes has a axe to grind. They kept putting out those BS valuation numbers year after year until Sportico came into business and starting putting out valuations for Sports that were more in line with reality. You can tell alot of Forbes inside sources are just placed old school execs in the old Big 4 that place little value on MLS. How else do you explain continuing to low ball valuation figures year after year. That or maybe Forbes valuations are the biggest con in sports.

The key thing they seem to miss is I don't care how or what your formula says something is worth. Value derives from what someone is willing to pay aka the going market rate. They've failed historically to add that into things when they do Sports valuations for leagues like MLS the very last of the BIg 5 they value ratio of that aspect is virtually non existent. Billionaires until a giant rock from space ends us all like being in the exclusive club.

There are only so many Major Professional Sports teams in those 5 Leagues you can buy for billions to a cpl hundreds millions. It seems weird but they brag about that type of asset purchase its elusive to 99.9% of the public. "Hey you know that one thing well guess what I bought it yup I own it. Yeah it cost me about $350m-3.5b$ but I wanted to expand my portfolio"
"Oh yeah I heard you bought that little upstart team in that league whats it called again? For a few mil"
You can never underestimate that aspect of brag among the elusive club of the uber rich. Those Travel Channel Yacht shows are something else.

 

Talks about MLS Apple Deal about 11 min in. Good discussions here whole video.

 

Some friendlies:
Chelsea vs Club America 262k on TUDN and it was also on Univision for which I don't have the number
Pumas vs Celta Vigo 156k on TUDN
Juventus vs Chivas 150k on Fox Deportes
Real Madrid vs Barcelona 440k on Fox Deportes (!!!) 170k on FS2
Manchester City vs Bayern 317k on ESPN 69k on EESPN Deportes, but that one was hurt by weather delays

 

That's the Central/South American Eurosnob Super Bowl every time it's played, regardless of whether there are any stakes at all.

 

Yeah, probably would've seen multiple millions on Univision.

 

I’d watch, but any friendly is not top of my list if a decent competitive game is available.

 

Agree !!! one thing is Patriots vs Green Bay in preseason rather than in the Super Bowl.

 

I always love to see the packers lose so I’d watch it

 

Pretty decent numbers for a late game and an over the air broadcast.

Audiencia en TV, #MLS semana 23:

295.000 LAFC v. Seattle (FS1/FOXD)
563.000 MNUFC v. Portland (ABC)

# espectaculares tanto en el partido propiedad de Fox Sports como en el que ESPN puso en free-to-air (ABC). TBA los # en español para el MIN-POR (ESPN Deportes). #tvratings #tv

— Jaime Ojeda (@jaimeor96) August 2, 2022

 

Yeah but to a Eurosnob, the analogy would be a preseason NFL game vs a regular season XFL game - most would go with the NFL game.

 

Some more friendlies:

Barcelona vs Juventus on FS2 172k
Real Madrid vs Club America on Fox Deportes 100k and 103k on FS2
Real Madrid vs Juventus 150k on Fox Deportes

Women's Euro final 885k

 

ESPN+ went down during the WEURO final. Periodically lost sound during the match.
I missed seeing RBNY have a meltdown last night because I don't have cable anymore and I couldn't watch it online. I live 3 hours north of RBA and I'm still blacked out. The Apple deal says no blackouts so I'm good with that. I welcome our Cupertino overlords.

 

I suspected as much for Minnesota vs. Portland. Perfect game for those to watch who might not usually go for soccer.

 

So over 71,000 in the stadium for a Leagues Cup Showcase in Los Angeles and both games on ESPN. Say what you want but that's some kind of revenue they brought in last night. The atmosphere was definitely impressive for meaningless games. I wonder what kind of number they do for the ratings? One of the interesting tweets I read was how fans of one team would cheer for the opposite teams rival.

 

Yup, that has happened before in front of an even bigger crowd at the Coliseum. MASSIVE roar from Club America when Donovan scored his penalty against Chivas USA.

BTW that game drew 88k, and people who were not aware of how to get to the Coliseum literally missed BOTH games of the doubleheader in traffic.

 

Audiencia en TV, #LeaguesCup:

1,532M LA Galaxy vs. Chivas (0,61)
└1,014M en Univisión
└299K en TUDN
└219K en ESPN
543K LAFC vs. América (0,24)
└395K en TUDN
└148K en ESPN
└TBA en Univisión

ESPN estuvo flojo; en total buenos # y ratings en demos P18-49. #tvratings #tv

— Jaime Ojeda (@jaimeor96) August 4, 2022

 

Leagues cup friendly straight up getting MLS cup level numbers. And this is why it's a big deal.

Very concerning for the English language broadcasts though - those ratings are horrible.

 

is ESPN+ included in ESPN ?

 

No

 

UEFA Women’s European Championship 2022 final delivered an average audience of 971,000 viewers, making it the most-watched soccer match on ESPN networks in 2022. #WEURO2022 #Lionesses pic.twitter.com/AmB80zRgu3

— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) August 4, 2022