Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Cable Soccer Viewership, Apr 20-26

MLS returns to ESPN for the first time in 2021 and tops this week's cable soccer ratings. LAFC v Seattle is turning out to be the best matchup for ESPN and the league. Last year's game pulled the best rating for an MLS game (pre-pandemic) since the beginning of 2020. This year's match is the 16th most viewed soccer program on cable this year.

Top 20 of 2021
12: Premier League
3: US Women's National Team
3: Olympic Qualifiers (men)
1: Liga MX
1: MLS

MLS games on FS1 continue to struggle. The LA Galaxy v NY Red Bulls, which had a nice Sunday afternoon timeslot as well as a Chicharito hattrick, only had 156k in viewership. SKC v Orlando, predictably, had 153k on Friday night.

In other events, the Premier League had a match on NBC's broadcast channel that pulled 866k (0.48) making it the most-watched soccer event in recent weeks.

Liga MX owned the top 10 with 7 events. 6 were on TUDN and 1 on Fox Deportes.

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On the top right is a histogram MLS viewership since the beginning of last year. It gives us an idea of where MLS is (generally). At the bottom of this post will be both ESPN and FS1 pulled out of the chart.
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US Cable Viewership: Soccer Programs Apr 20 - Apr 26
Viewers (000)Event/GameNetworkDate
498MLS REGULAR SEASON: LAFC v SeattleESPNApr 24, 21
434PREMIER LEAGUE L: MANCHESTER UNITED/LEEDSNBCSNApr 25, 21
391LIGA MX L: MAZATLAN / LEONTUDNApr 23, 21
390LIGA MX L: QUERETARO / JUAREZTUDNApr 25, 21
384LIGA MX SAT: ATLAS / CHIVAS GUADALAJARATUDNApr 24, 21
382LIGA MX SAT 2: TIGRES UANL / MONTERREYTUDNApr 24, 21
307LIGA MX SUN: TOLUCA / AMERICATUDNApr 25, 21
261LIGA MX: MONTERREY VS GUADALAJARAFOX DEPApr 21, 21
227LIGA MX FRI: PUEBLA VS UNAMTUDNApr 23, 21
217PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSNApr 25, 21
212PREMIER LEAGUE L: MAN CITY/ASTON VILLANBCSNApr 21, 21
212LIGA MX L: CRUZ AZUL / ATLETICO SAN LUISTUDNApr 24, 21
209PREMIER LEAGUE L: EVERTON/ARSENALNBCSNApr 23, 21
177LIGA MX L: PACHUCA / SANTOSTUDNApr 26, 21
160LALIGA SANTANDER MRQ-L: REAL VS. BETISBEIN ESPApr 24, 21
156LALIGA SANTANDER MRQ-L: VILLARREAL VS. BARCABEIN ESPApr 25, 21
156MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER L: GALAXY/RED BULLSFS1Apr 25, 21
153MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER L: SKC/ORLANDOFS1Apr 23, 21
134LALIGA SANTANDER-L: ATHLETIC VS. ATLETICOBEIN ESPApr 25, 21
130LIGA DE HONDURAS: VIDA VS MOTAGUAFOX DEPApr 21, 21
121PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONENBCSNApr 21, 21
119PREMIER LEAGUE L: BURNLEY/WOLVESNBCSNApr 25, 21
117PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIALNBCSNApr 25, 21
113LIGA MX: TIJUANA VS NECAXAFOX DEPApr 23, 21
100FUTBOL CENTRAL LTUDNApr 25, 21
77LIGA MX FEMENIL L: AMERICA / CRUZ AZULTUDNApr 25, 21
72MISION EUROPATUDNApr 24, 21
61LIGA DE HONDURAS: MARATHON V REAL DE MINASFOX DEPApr 21, 21
source: showbuzzdaily












The reason the histogram looks a little funny (there should be data points to the left of the high points) is because my source for the data only captures the top 150 cable shows on the day. There are occasions where MLS doesn't meet that threshold.

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

SBJ on the next MLS TV Deal

Abe Madkour and John Ourand of the Sports Business Journal talked about the prospects of the next TV deal for MLS back on March 31th, weeks before the league started. Posting it up now that the league has kicked off and with negotiations starting next week.

It's the first part of the video and it's not favorable towards the league. SBJ is usually more than willing to hype MLS over the years but they have always been realistic about their TV presence.


You can read my thoughts on the upcoming deal HERE.

Friday, April 23, 2021

Women's Sports v MLS on US Cable

Below is a list of every women's sporting event that got more than 300k viewers since January 1, 2020. 

Out of curiosity, I've also included every MLS game (11 of 78 listed here) in the same timeframe that has over 300k.

This is US cable only.

A couple callouts:
1. I didn't know about Women's CBB popularity.
2. There would probably be more College Softball on here were it not for the pandemic.
3. The MLS playoff format change (single elimination) helped them.
4. With Tennis I only pulled out events that specifically listed it as a women's event.

Generally speaking, I think Women's sports on TV do better than most people realize. If you get further down the list (under 300k) you get a lot of volleyball, gymnastics, and more softball. It's pretty incredible the diverse amount of sports on this list. For men's sports, the NFL and College Football would make up something like 70% of the top 100 events in this time frame.

I did this to illustrate that even though women's sports don't get the air men's events do - people seek out and find them.



US Cable Viewership: Women's Events v. MLS Jan 1, 2020 - Now
Viewers (000)Event/GameNetworkDate
4,077WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP LESPNApr 4, 21
2,692WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP L: ARIZONA/CONNESPNApr 2, 21
1,703WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP L: BAYLOR/CONNESPNMar 29, 21
1,676WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP LESPNApr 2, 21
1,075WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP LESPNMar 30, 21
980WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP L: INDIANA/ARIZONAESPNMar 29, 21
938WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP L: TEXAS/S CAROLINAESPNMar 30, 21
806TENNIS: AUSTRALIAN OPEN L: WOMENS SEMIESPN2Feb 17, 21
804WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP LESPNMar 23, 21
765WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP L: IOWA ST/TEXAS A&MESPN2Mar 24, 21
744WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP L: TEXAS/MARYLANDESPNMar 28, 21
689WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP L: OREGON/LOUISVILLEESPNMar 28, 21
638NCAA WBKBL CHAMP STUDIO LESPNApr 2, 21
630WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L: TENNESSEE/UCONNESPNJan 23, 20
597NCAA WBKBL CHAMP STUDIO LESPNApr 4, 21
592WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP L: TEXAS/UCLAESPN2Mar 24, 21
574TENNIS: AUSTRALIAN OPEN L: WOMENS SEMIESPN2Jan 29, 20
570WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP L: ARIZONA/TEXAS A&MESPN2Mar 27, 21
570WNBA PLAYOFFS L: LAS VEGAS/WASHINGTONESPNOct 6, 20
569WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP L: HIGH POINT/CONESPNMar 21, 21
568SHE BELIEVES CUP L: USA/BRAZILFS1Feb 21, 21
530SHE BELIEVES CUP L: USA/ARGENTINAFS1Feb 24, 21
530WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP L: OREGON ST/S CARESPNMar 23, 21
518WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L: BAYLOR/CONNESPNJan 9, 20
502WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L: CONN/TENNESSEEESPNJan 21, 21
498SHE BELIEVES CUP L: USA/CANADAFS1Feb 18, 21
490WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP L: INDIANA/NC STATEESPN2Mar 27, 21
481WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN L: UCONN/S CAROLINAESPN2Feb 10, 20
478MLS REGULAR SEASON      L: PHIL/NEW ENGLANDESPNNov 24, 20
464MLS REGULAR SEASON L: ORLANDO/MIAMIESPNJul 8, 20
463MLS REGULAR SEASON      L: LAFC/MIAMIESPNMar 1, 20
461WOM COLL BKBL: BIG EAST L: S CAROLINA/UCONNFS1Feb 8, 21
457MLS REGULAR SEASON      L: SEATTLE/LAFCESPNNov 24, 20
453WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP L: MICHIGAN/TENESPN2Mar 23, 21
446NCAA WBKBL CHAMP STUDIO LESPNMar 15, 21
438WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L: NOTRE DAME/LOUESPNFeb 7, 21
438WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L: OREGON/UCONNESPN2Feb 3, 20
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
411WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP L: NORTHWESTERN/LOUESPN2Mar 24, 21
409LPGA TOUR: 2020 ANA INSPIRATIONGOLF CHASep 12, 20
403WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP L: CEN MICHIGAN/IOWAESPNMar 21, 21
399MLS REGULAR SEASON      L: POR/NASHVILLEESPNMar 8, 20
396WOMENS INTL FRIENDLY L: USA/COLOMBIAFS1Jan 18, 21
387USA SOCCER WOMEN        L: USA/ENGLANDESPN2Mar 5, 20
387WNBA DRAFT              L: N/AESPNApr 17, 20
380COLL SOFTBALL REG SSN   L: UCLA/FLORIDA STESPN2Feb 16, 20
380WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  LESPNJan 16, 20
380WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP LESPN2Mar 23, 21
376WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L: OREGON/STANFORDESPN2Feb 24, 20
368WMNS COLL BKBL POST SSN L: MISS ST/S CAROLINAESPN2Mar 8, 20
368WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L: TEAM USA/UCONNESPN2Jan 27, 20
365MLS REGULAR SEASON L: POR/ORLANDOESPNAug 11, 20
362WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L: TEXAS A&M/MISSSTESPNFeb 9, 20
362WOM CONCACAF OLYM QUAL L: SEMI:USA/MEXICOFS1Feb 7, 20
355TENNIS: AUSTRALIAN OPEN: WOMENS FINALESPN2Feb 1, 20
350WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP LESPN2Mar 24, 21
344WNBA PLAYOFFS L: SEATTLE/LAS VEGASESPN2Oct 2, 20
337WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP L: WRIGHT ST/ARKESPNMar 22, 21
336WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP L: MERCER/S CAROLINAESPNMar 21, 21
333MLS REGULAR SEASON      L: KANSAS CITY/MINESPNJul 12, 20
331WNBA PREVIEW/REVIEW L: N/AESPNApr 15, 21
326MLS PLAYOFFS L: CONF FINAL: SEATTLE/MINFS1Dec 7, 20
322WOM CONCACAF OLYM QUAL L: USA/COSTA RICAFS1Feb 3, 20
321MLS PLAYOFFS L: CONF SEMI: SEATTLE/DALLASFS1Dec 1, 20
320WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  LESPNFeb 15, 21
319MLS REGULAR SEASON      L: SEATTLE/SAN JOSEESPNJul 10, 20
318WMNS COLL BKBL POST SSN LESPN2Mar 9, 20
318WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L: TEN/TEXAS A&MESPNFeb 14, 21
317USA SOCCER WOMEN        L: USA/COLOMBIAESPN2Jan 22, 21
311MLS REGULAR SEASON      L: SEATTLE/CHICAGOESPNMar 1, 20
311LPGA TOURGOLF CHAJan 24, 21
310WNBA BASKETBALL L: MINNESOTA/LA SPARKSESPNAug 9, 20
309WMNS COLL BKBL REG SSN  L: S CAROLINA/KENESPNJan 10, 21
308LPGA TOUR: ANA INSPIRATIONGOLF CHAApr 4, 21
307WOM CONCACAF OLYM QUAL L: FINAL:CAN/USAFS2Feb 9, 20
301WMNS NCAA BKBL CHAMP LESPN2Mar 23, 21

source: ShowBuzzDaily