Wednesday, September 29, 2021

TV Soccer Viewership: Sep 21-27

1. Last week saw Liga MX pull a strong 666k on TUDN for the America v. Guadalajara match. A reminder that TUDN is in about half the homes in the US as its competitors (ESPN, NBCSN, FS1).

2. Right behind them, we see the familiar wall of Premier League programs. The Spurs v. Arsenal was an obvious hit because of the large fanbases in the United States. It's also worth noting that this match was on during early NFL games - really impressive stuff that I'm not sure has happened before in regards to soccer on TV in the US.

3. Further down this list are two disappointing MLS games. The energy has just evaporated from this season. I'm not sure the reasons for it, but it could have to do with resources being diverted to trying to hammer out a TV deal and the league navigating the Leagues Cup. Whatever it is, it's a terrible look.

4. The USWNT 2nd match against Paraguay didn't draw much interest. I tend to think scheduling these type of barnstorming games hurt the teams more than help. Of note; TUDN pulled 108k for the match.

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US Cable Viewership: Soccer Programs Sep 21-27
Viewers (000)Event/GameNetworkDate
666LIGA MX SAT 2: AMERICA / GUADALAJARATUDN9/25
623PREMIER LEAGUE L: TOTTENHAM/ARSENALNBCSN9/26
415PREMIER LEAGUE L: LIVERPOOL/BRENTFORDNBCSN9/25
331PREMIER LEAGUE L: MAN CITY/CHELSEANBCSN9/25
330PREMIER LEAGUE L: BURNLEY/LEICESTERNBCSN9/25
318PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSN9/26
311LIGA MX SAT: TIGRES / UNAMTUDN9/25
295PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSN9/25
287PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSN9/25
272PREMIER LEAGUE L: WOLVES/SOUTHAMPTONNBCSN9/26
219LEAGUES CUP 9/22/21: LEON / SEATTLETUDN9/22
211WOMENS INTL FRIENDLY L: USA/PARAGUAYFS19/21
206LIGA MX FRI: PUEBLA / CRUZ AZULTUDN9/24
188PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONENBCSN9/26
184PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONENBCSN9/25
161LIGA MX: SANTOS VS MONTERREYFOX DEP9/26
159LIGA MX EF SAT: ATLAS VS LEONTUDN9/25
149MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER L: SKC/SEATTLEFS19/26
144PREMIER LEAGUE L: BRIGHTON/CRYSTAL PALACENBCSN9/27
133LEAGUES CUP  L: CLUB LEON/SEATTLEESPN29/22
116MLS REGULAR SEASON   L: AUSTIN/LA GALAXYESPN29/26
113LIGA MX L: PACHUCA / NECAXATUDN9/23
108USWNT L: USA / PARAGUAYTUDN9/21
96LIGA MX SUN: TOLUCA / SAN LUISTUDN9/26
80LIGA MX L: FC JUAREZ / CLUB ATLETICOTUDN9/21
77MEXICAN FIRST DIVISION L: MONTERREY/TOLUCAESPN DEP9/22
73LIGA PREMIER EXTRAUNIVERSO9/25
48LIGUE 1 – L: PSG VS. MONTPELLIERBEIN ESP9/25

sources: showbuzzdaily, spoilertv, helltownbeer

Here's a look at total viewership on cable for all sports last week:




Wednesday, September 22, 2021

TV Soccer Viewership: Sep 14-20

A busy week of soccer on TV last week as we have multiple tournaments going at the same time. In Europe, the Champions League joins a busy EPL schedule (and a Ligue 1 match) - while in the US, it is the regional Champions league along with the exhibition "Leagues Cup" to go along with MLS and Liga MX regular-season games.

NOTES

• It's hard not to call out MLS for poor numbers on both FS1 and ESPN. The start of both College Football and the NFL has completely flattened viewership. Last week, two MLS games didn't land in the top 150 cable shows on the date they aired on FS1 and ESPN's game pulled a shockingly low 115k on Sunday - the 3rd lowest number since the beginning of last year.

• The USWNT game against Paraguay didn't generate a whole lot of interest. US Soccer wants to get this team out there as much as possible, but perhaps sometimes it's better to wait till something more competitive/meaningful comes along. There's a "Team USA" vibe to how they are being treated and I think that hurts any attempts to create a stable league system.

• Over on broadcast TV (not listed below), there was just one game. The NBC matchup between Everton and Aston Villa pulled a strong 631k against heavy Sunday afternoon NFL action.

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US Cable Viewership: Soccer Programs Sep 14-20
Viewers (000)Event/GameNetworkDate
578PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSN9/19
572PREMIER LEAGUE L: MANUNITED/WEST HAMNBCSN9/19
379LIGA MX SAT: TOLUCA / AMERICATUDN9/18
356PREMIER LEAGUE L: ARSENAL/BURNLEYNBCSN9/18
295PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSN9/18
292USA SOCCER WOMEN  L: PARAGUAY/USAESPN29/16
260UEFA CHAMP LEAGUE TUE 2: BARCA VS BAYERNTUDN9/14
253CONCACAF CHAMPIONS L: PHIL / AMERICATUDN9/15
246LIGA MX: MONTERREY VS TIGRESFOX DEP9/19
232UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: BRUGGE VS PSGTUDN9/15
216CONCACAF CHAMPIONS: CRUZ AZUL/MONTERREYTUDN9/16
212PREMIER LEAGUE L: BRENTFORD/WOLVESNBCSN9/18
202PREMIER LEAGUE L: SOUTHAMPTON/MAN CITYUSA9/18
201LEAGUES CUP L: LE?N VS. PUMAS UNAMTUDN9/15
177LEAGUES CUP L: SEATTLE VS. SANTOS LAGUNATUDN9/14
176LIGA MX L: LEON / FC JUAREZTUDN9/18
174LIGA MX L: NECAXA / ATLASTUDN9/17
167PREMIER LEAGUE L: LEEDS/NEWCASTLENBCSN9/17
158LIGA MX SAT 2: MAZATLAN / UNAMTUDN9/18
153MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER L: PORTLAND/LAFCFS19/19
144UEFA CHAMP LEAGUE: YOUNG BOYS/MAN UNITEDTUDN9/14
129LIGA MX PT SUN: CRUZ AZUL / QUERETAROTUDN9/19
128LIGA PREMIER EXTRAUNIVERSO9/18
124MISION EUROPA LTUDN9/15
119UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAG 21 EF: FC INTER/REALGALA9/15
115MLS REGULAR SEASON      L: PHIL/ORLANDOESPN9/19
112UEFA CHAMP LEAGUE: BESIKTAS/ DORTMUNDTUDN9/15
109LEAGUES CUP  L: SEATTLE/SANTOS LAGUNAESPN29/14
105LIGA PREMIER: ASTON VILLA VS EVERTONUNIVERSO9/18
100MISION EUROPA TUETUDN9/14
84LIGUE 1 – L: PARIS SAINT GERMAIN VS. LYONBEIN ESP9/19
69LIGA MX – D: SANTOS VS PUEBLAFOX DEP9/20
65FUTBOL CENTRAL LTUDN9/19

source: showbuzzydaily, spoilertv, helltownbeer

Share of minutes on cable last week:




Wednesday, September 15, 2021

TV Soccer Viewership: Sep 7-13

Week 36 was topped by Ronaldo's return to the Premier League, but its placement on the USA Network probably hurt the total number a bit. It did pull another 100k on TUDN, which is okay for the PL on that network.

Not far behind was the rugged Liverpool v Leeds match. Outside of that, however, numbers drop quickly. No doubt the start of the NFL is being felt by the soccer world, especially MLS. The Friday matchup between Atlanta and Orlando on FS1 didn't finish in the top 150 cable programs that day (meaning; less than 50k or so).

MLS has gone missing on cable since Aug. 29.

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US Cable Viewership: Soccer Programs Sep 7-13
Viewers (000)Event/GameNetworkDate
537PREMIER LEAGUE L: NEWCASTLE/MAN UNITEDUSA9/11
475PREMIER LEAGUE L: LIVERPOOL/LEEDSNBCSN9/12
341PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA9/11
292LIGA MX SATTUDN9/11
270RUMBO AL MUNDIAL: HONDURAS VS EE.UU.UNIVERSO9/8
269LIGA MX SAT 2: AMERICA / MAZATLANTUDN9/11
263RUMBO AL MUNDIAL: PANAMA VS MEXICOUNIVERSO9/8
251LIGA MX EF SUN: UNAM / CHIVASTUDN9/12
245PREMIER LEAGUE L: TOTTENHAM/PALACENBCSN9/11
230LIGA MX L: JUAREZ / CRUZ AZULTUDN9/10
215WORLD CUP QUAL MATCHES : FRANCE/FINLANDESPN29/7
188LIGA MX EF SAT: ATLAS VS. MONTERREYTUDN9/11
172PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA9/11
166PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONENBCSN9/12
150LIGA MX L: QUERETARO / NECAXATUDN9/12
144PREMIER LEAGUE L: WEST HAM/SOUTHAMPTONNBCSN9/11
140PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSN9/12
122LIGA MX L: PUEBLA / SAN LUISTUDN9/10
112LIGA PREMIER: MAN UNITED VS NEWCASTLEUNIVERSO9/11
107LIGA PREMIER: CHELSEA VS ASTON VILLAUNIVERSO9/11
68RUMBO MUNDIAL ANTESALAUNIVERSO9/8
62FUTBOL CENTRAL LTUDN9/12

source: showbuzzdaily