Wednesday, February 24, 2021

US Cable Soccer Viewership, Feb 16-22

The She Believes Cup games featuring the United States lead the way this week, filling the top two spots in regards to soccer programs on cable television. This is certainly a "win" for FS1, who have been having some trouble with soccer-related shows since the pandemic took hold early last year.

Also of note is the pre-game show pulling 187k viewers on FS1 and the Spanish language broadcast on TUDN of the US v. Brasil match pulling 177k.

NBC broadcast a Premier League game on their over-the-air channel that had an impressive 1.1 million viewers (0.65 rating) for the Everton v. Liverpool game on Saturday.


Viewers (000)Event/GameNetworkDate
568SHE BELIEVES CUP L: USA/BRAZILFS1Feb 21, 21
498SHE BELIEVES CUP L: USA/CANADAFS1Feb 18, 21
420LIGA MX SUN: TIGRES / TIJUANATUDNFeb 21, 21
395PREMIER LEAGUE L: WEST BROM/BURNLEYNBCSNFeb 20, 21
386LIGA MX SAT 2: ATLAS VS AMERICATUDNFeb 20, 21
379PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSNFeb 20, 21
336LIGA MX MON: PACHUCA / CHIVAS GUADALAJARATUDNFeb 22, 21
292PREMIER LEAGUE L: CHELSEA/SOUTHAMPTONNBCSNFeb 20, 21
284PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSNFeb 20, 21
283LIGA MX L: TIGRES / CRUZ AZULTUDNFeb 17, 21
270UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: BARCA VS. PSGTUDNFeb 16, 21
257LIGA MX SAT: CRUZ AZUL / TOLUCATUDNFeb 20, 21
256LIGA MX L: FC JUAREZ / MAZATLANTUDNFeb 19, 21
254PREMIER LEAGUE L: MANCHESTER CITY/EVERTONNBCSNFeb 17, 21
208LIGA MX L: NECAXA / MONTERREYTUDNFeb 19, 21
194UEFA CHAMP LEAGUE WED 1: PORTO VS JUVENTUSTUDNFeb 17, 21
188LIGA MX L: QUERETARO / PUEBLATUDNFeb 21, 21
187SHE BELIEVES CUP PRE LFS1Feb 21, 21
186LIGA MX SUN: UNAM / LEONTUDNFeb 21, 21
177SHE BELIEVES CUP: ESTADOS UNIDOS / BRASILTUDNFeb 21, 21
175LIGA MX L: ATLETICO SAN LUIS / SANTOS LAGUNATUDNFeb 18, 21
166PREMIER LEAGUE L: CRYSTAL PALACE/BRIGHTONNBCSNFeb 22, 21
160LIGA PREMIER: LIVERPOOL VS EVERTONUNIVERSOFeb 20, 21
141PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONENBCSNFeb 17, 21
125LALIGA SANTANDER MRQ-L: VALLADOLID VS. REALBEIN ESPFeb 20, 21
122PREMIER LEAGUE L: FULHAM/BURNLEYNBCSNFeb 17, 21
97PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONENBCSNFeb 22, 21
92SHE BELIEVES CUP L: ARGENTINA/CANADAFS1Feb 21, 21
67PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIALNBCSNFeb 22, 21

Source: ShowBuzz Daily

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Crew Stadium to cook fans, block out the skyline and sunset views

In keeping an interested eye on the (somewhat) nearly complete new Crew Stadium you can't help but notice its giant black roof that covers all the stands. In promotional sizzle reels, it was a glimmering black diamond structure that would look comfortable in Disney's Tomorrowland fantasy.

Now that we have moved on from promo pictures to reality, well, it's not much different. The builders have done a fantastic job bringing the stadium drawings to life. Therein lies the problem (or problems), however.

1. COOKED FANS

BLACK ABSORBS HEAT. Perhaps there is one, but there are no examples of a black roof being on any (purpose-built) stadium in the world. The closest you will find might be early 20th century stadiums in England, like Fulham. Roofs that might look similar to what you have at home with common asphalt shingles, usually covering a couple stands. It rains in England if you haven't heard. It's also a *bit* cooler because the season schedule excludes summer play. Outside of those examples, there are no black roofs of any material.

MLS plays all summer. Ohio... gets sunny and hot. I'm not sure how many outdoor games I went to at the old Crew Stadium, but it was more than a handful during sweltering summer evenings. Imagine being in the upper-level seats in 90+ degree heat on a sunny evening in the new stadium.

2. NO SKYLINE NO SUNSETS

With the complete wrap-around roof, there's only a hole about the size of the pitch of which to see the outdoors. What that means is that you will only be able to look out of the stadium by looking straight up. Anyone living in the mountains knows the feeling of not being able to see the sky unless you're looking straight up. It nearly eliminates your ability to see the sky. Even promotional drawings show this sort of claustrophobic view of life inside the new stadium.

What doesn't make sense to me is why built it downtown if you are going to block out 90% of the skyline? I get not wanting to see and hear the busy highway not far from the stadium but I don't get why every side is completely covered.

Similarly positioned in terms of climate is DC's "Audi Field". They intelligently only put overhangs on two sides and they are angled slightly up in order to give fans a little breathing room and more importantly, not black in color.

3. LAST THOUGHT

I'll never not be surprised that this was the final design of the new stadium. On its best days, perhaps cool early spring and late fall afternoons at 50% capacity, this stadium may shine. But on its worst days, hot evenings where the sun has been beating down all day (ie. half the MLS calendar) filled up with fans it'll be a dark, sweaty, germy, and cave-like claustrophobic experience.

I'm imagining the close quarters of Nationwide right down the street, only it won't be temperature-controlled and it will be in a post-pandemic environment that I can't imagine being in right now.

Things are what they are. The stadium will be finished before we know it and we'll see some fans in there soon if things continue on their track, but I don't think it will be the wild soccer party that has been sold to city leaders.

My hunch is that the desire to get the design done quickly was the priority, given the environment at the time. This gave fans a stadium, to be sure. Just not the right stadium.

Saturday, February 20, 2021

Top 25: Women's Sports on Cable Jan 1, 2020-Now

The USWNT pulled 498k viewers for their She Believes Cup match against Canada. Here's a look at the top 25 women's sports on cable since the beginning of last year.


US Cable Viewership: Women's Sports Programing JAN 1, 2020-NOW
Viewers (000)Event/GameNetworkDate
630WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L: TENNESSEE/UCONNESPNJan 23, 20
570WNBA PLAYOFFS L: LAS VEGAS/WASHINGTONESPNOct 6, 20
518WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L: BAYLOR/UCONNESPNJan 9, 20
502WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L: UCONN/TENNESSEEESPNJan 21, 21
498USWNTFS1Feb 18, 21
481WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L: UCONN/S CAROLINAESPN2Feb 10, 20
461WOM COLL BKBL: BIG EAST L: S CAROLINA/UCONNFS1Feb 8, 21
438WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L: OREGON/UCONNESPN2Feb 3, 20
438WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L: NOTRE DAME/LOUESPNFeb 7, 21
431WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L: TEAM USA/LOUESPNFeb 2, 20
422WMNS COLL BKBL POST SSN L: STANFORD/OREGONESPN2Mar 8, 20
419WNBA BASKETBALL L: SEATTLE/NEW YORKESPNJul 25, 20
396WOMENS INTL FRIENDLY L: USA/COLOMBIAFS1Jan 18, 21
387USA SOCCER WOMEN        L: USA/ENGLANDESPN2Mar 5, 20
387WNBA DRAFT              L: N/AESPNApr 17, 20
380WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  LESPNJan 16, 20
380COLL SOFTBALL REG SSN   L: UCLA/FL STATEESPN2Feb 16, 20
376WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L: OREGON/STANFORDESPN2Feb 24, 20
368WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L: TEAM USA/UCONNESPN2Jan 27, 20
368WMNS COLL BKBL POST SSN L: MISS STATE/S CAROLINAESPN2Mar 8, 20
362WOM CONCACAF OLYM QUAL L: SEMI:USA/MEXICOFS1Feb 7, 20
362WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L: TEXAS A&M/MISS STESPNFeb 9, 20
344WNBA PLAYOFFS L: SEATTLE/LAS VEGASESPN2Oct 2, 20
322WOM CONCACAF OLYM QUAL L: USA/COSTA RICAFS1Feb 3, 20
320WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  LESPNFeb 15, 21
318WMNS COLL BKBL POST SSN LESPN2Mar 9, 20


Wednesday, February 17, 2021

US Cable Soccer Viewership, Feb 9-15

The Premier League on NBCSN takes all the tops spots last week as the Leeds United v. Arsenal match pulled a surprising 594k on Valentine's Day, making it the 4th most-watched NBCSN game of the 2021 year and the FIRST not to feature a Manchester side. This even led to the lead in "Live Studio" to be ranked 5th, in regards to EPL programming on NBCSN this year.

Top 6 NBCSN Premier League Programs in 2021:

1. 7-Feb-21: MANCHESTER CITY/LIVERPOOL
2. 3-Jan-21: MANCHESTER CITY/CHELSEA
3. 1-Jan-21: ASTON VILLA/MANCHESTER UNITED
4. 14-Feb-21: LEEDS/ARSENAL
5. 6-Feb-21: EVERTON/MANCHESTER UNITED
6. 14-Feb-21: PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIO

US Cable Soccer programs: Feb 9-15
Viewers (000)Event/GameNetworkDate
594PREMIER LEAGUE L: LEEDS/ARSENALNBCSNFeb 14, 21
487PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSNFeb 14, 21
451PREMIER LEAGUE L: MAN UNITED/WEST BROMNBCSNFeb 14, 21
420PREMIER LEAGUE L: BURNLEY/CRYSTAL PALACENBCSNFeb 13, 21
395PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSNFeb 13, 21
375PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSNFeb 14, 21
364PREMIER LEAGUE L: LIVERPOOL/LEICESTERNBCSNFeb 13, 21
344FIFA CLUB COPA MNDL FNL: BAYERN VS TIGRESFOX DEPFeb 11, 21
339PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSNFeb 13, 21
323PREMIER LEAGUE L: NEWCASTLE/CHELSEANBCSNFeb 15, 21
283LIGA MX: SANTOS VS MONTERREYFOX DEPFeb 14, 21
272LIGA MX SAT: AMERICA / QUERETAROTUDNFeb 13, 21
226LIGA MX L: PACHUCA / GUADALAJARATUDNFeb 15, 21
190PREMIER LEAGUE L: SHEFFIELD/WEST HAMNBCSNFeb 15, 21
176FIFA CLUB WORLD CUP L: FINAL: BAYERN/TIGRESFS1Feb 11, 21
167LIGA MX SUN: TOLUCA / UNAMTUDNFeb 14, 21
161LIGA MX: TIJUANA VS LEONFOX DEPFeb 12, 21
153LIGA MX L: PUEBLA / JUAREZTUDNFeb 12, 21
152PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONENBCSNFeb 15, 21
125LIGA PREMIER: MAN CITY VS TOTTENHAMUNIVERSOFeb 13, 21
115LIGA MX L: MAZATALAN / ATLETICO SAN LUISTUDNFeb 12, 21
109LALIGA SANTANDER MRQ-L: BARCA VS. ALAVESBEIN ESPFeb 13, 21
86LALIGA SANTANDER MRQ-L: REAL VS. VALENCIABEIN ESPFeb 14, 21
76LIGA MX EN 60TUDNFeb 13, 21
66LIGA PREMIER EXTRAUNIVERSOFeb 13, 21


Wednesday, February 10, 2021

US Cable Soccer Viewership, Feb 2-8

A little bit of everything to start out the month of February. Mexican soccer to the FIFA Club World Cup to the Women's Super League. There's a bit of everything this week (save for the Bundesliga and MLS). 

EPL with a huge number at the top. Nearly 1 million for the Manchester City v. Liverpool match up.


US Cable Soccer programs: Feb 2-8
Viewers (000)Event/GameNetworkDate
973PREMIER LEAGUE L: MAN CITY/LIVERPOOLNBCSNFeb 7, 21
592PREMIER LEAGUE L: EVERTON/MAN UNITEDNBCSNFeb 6, 21
462PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSNFeb 7, 21
449PREMIER LEAGUE L: LEICESTER/WOLVESNBCSNFeb 7, 21
426LIGA MX SAT: AMERICA / PUEBLATUDNFeb 6, 21
415PREMIER LEAGUE L: SOUTHAMPTON/NEWCASTLENBCSNFeb 6, 21
387PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSNFeb 7, 21
372FIFA CLUB COPA MNDL SEMI: PALMEIRAS/TIGRESFOX DEPFeb 7, 21
360PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONENBCSNFeb 6, 21
329PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSNFeb 6, 21
313PREMIER LEAGUE L: BRIGHTON/LIVERPOOLNBCSNFeb 3, 21
304LIGA MX L: LEON / CHIVAS GUADALAJARATUDNFeb 8, 21
299LIGA MX: MONTERREY VS PUMASFOX DEPFeb 6, 21
286PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSNFeb 6, 21
281PREMIER LEAGUE L: SOUTHAMPTON/MAN UNITEDNBCSNFeb 2, 21
238PREMIER LEAGUE L: ARSENAL/ASTON VILLANBCSNFeb 6, 21
227PREMIER LEAGUE L: ARSENAL/WOLVESNBCSNFeb 2, 21
217LALIGA SANTANDER MRQ-L: BETIS VS. BARCABEIN ESPFeb 7, 21
213LIGA MX FRI: NECAXA / CRUZ AZULTUDNFeb 5, 21
212LIGA MX L: PUEBLA / MONTERREYTUDNFeb 2, 21
188LIGA MX L: ATLAS / SANTOSTUDNFeb 6, 21
178LIGA MX L: QUERETARO / PACHUCATUDNFeb 4, 21
173PREMIER LEAGUE L: MAN CITY/BURNLEYNBCSNFeb 3, 21
173PREMIER LEAGUE L: WEST BROM/TOTTENHAMNBCSNFeb 7, 21
163PREMIER LEAGUE L: CRYSTAL PALACE/LEEDSNBCSNFeb 8, 21
160PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONENBCSNFeb 3, 21
146PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONENBCSNFeb 2, 21
136LIGA MX L: SAN LUIS / TIJUANATUDNFeb 4, 21
120FIFA CLUB COPA MNDL SEMI: AL AHLY/BAYERNFOX DEPFeb 8, 21
90FA WOMENS SUPER LEAGUE: ARSENAL/MAN CITYNBCSNFeb 7, 21
82FUTBOL PICANTE      LESPN DEPFeb 7, 21
71LALIGA SANTANDER MRQ-L: BETIS VS. BARCABEIN ESPFeb 7, 21
61FUTBOL PICANTEESPN DEPFeb 6, 21

*Source: ShowBuzz Daily