Cable Soccer Viewership, Mar 16-22

Cable TV viewership numbers for soccer programs/games over the last week.

Callouts

1. A week off for the Premier League meant that Mexican soccer (U23's and Liga MX) had the main stage pretty much to themselves.

2. The Olympic Qualifier USMNT match vs. the Dominican Republic performed better on TUDN than on FS1

3. There was very little interest in the FS1 broadcast (English) for the Mexico v Dominican match (86k). The Spanish language broadcast of the same game on TUND - 277k.

On MLS merging with Liga MX...

The assumption is that the American audience on (ESPN, FS1) with stick with MLS and then grow with the inclusion of Liga MX, but looking at the numbers here and of late? I think that the growth will be on Spanish Language channels (UniMas, ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes, TUDN if they bid on the next deal), while the English language drops measurably. There doesn't appear to be an appetite on the English-speaking side of the game broadcasts. The audience behavior is such that if it is on in Spanish, then that is the preferred option. With that, MLS melds(?) with Liga MX instead of becoming a partner. Think of it as a supersized Liga MX.

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US Cable Viewership: Soccer Programs Mar 16 - 22
Viewers (000)	Event/Game	Network	Date
447	SUB 23 OLYMPIC QUALIFIER: COSTA RICA / MEXICO	TUDN	Mar 21, 21
384	LIGA MX LF FRI: MAZATLAN / AMERICA	TUDN	Mar 19, 21
298	LIGA MX SAT 2: CRUZ AZUL VS ATLAS	TUDN	Mar 20, 21
283	LIGA MX L: PACHUCA / TIGRES UANL	TUDN	Mar 18, 21
277	SUB 23 OLYMPIC QUALIFIER: MEXICO / DOM REP	TUDN	Mar 18, 21
253	PREMIER LEAGUE L: TOTTENHAM/ASTON VILLA	NBCSN	Mar 21, 21
241	SUB 23 OLYMPIC QUALIFIER: DOM REPUBLIC / USA	TUDN	Mar 21, 21
231	UEFA CHAMP LEAGUE WED 1: ATLETICO V CHELSEA	TUDN	Mar 17, 21
228	UEFA CHAMP LEAGUE TUE 1: REAL VS ATALANTA	TUDN	Mar 16, 21
202	CONCACAF OLYM QUAL L: DOM REP/USA	FS1	Mar 21, 21
196	FUTBOL CENTRAL L	TUDN	Mar 21, 21
181	LIGA MX L: NECAXA / FC JUAREZ	TUDN	Mar 19, 21
175	LIGA MX SAT: CLUB ATLETICO SAN LUIS VS UNAM	TUDN	Mar 20, 21
159	LALIGA SANTANDER MRQ-L: SOCIEDAD VS. BARCA	BEIN ESP	Mar 21, 21
153	SUB 23 OLYMPIC QUALIFIER: EL SALVADOR / HON	TUDN	Mar 22, 21
129	LIGA MX SUN: TOLUCA / PUEBLA	TUDN	Mar 21, 21
128	CONCACAF OLYM QUAL L: USA/COSTA RICA	FS1	Mar 18, 21
126	LIGA MX: SANTOS VS LEON	FOX DEP	Mar 21, 21
125	CONCACAF OLYM QUAL L: COSTA RICA/MEXICO	FS1	Mar 21, 21
124	LALIGA SANTANDER MRQ-L: CELTA VS. REAL	BEIN ESP	Mar 20, 21
119	FUTBOL CENTRAL L	TUDN	Mar 18, 21
117	PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIO	NBCSN	Mar 21, 21
112	LIGA MX: TIJUANA VS QUERETARO	FOX DEP	Mar 20, 21
93	SUB 23 OLYMPIC QUALIFIER: HONDURAS / HAITI	TUDN	Mar 19, 21
92	UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE L: VILLARREAL CF / FC DYNAMO KYIV	TUDN	Mar 18, 21
87	LALIGA SANTANDER-L: ATLETICO DE MADRID VS. ALAVES	BEIN ESP	Mar 21, 21
86	CONCACAF OLYM QUAL L: MEXICO/DOMINICAN REPUBLIC	FS1	Mar 18, 21
73	FUTBOL CENTRAL L	TUDN	Mar 22, 21
60	FUTBOL CLUB L	TUDN	Mar 17, 21