Wednesday, January 26, 2022

TV Soccer Viewership: Jan 18-24

The week before a FIFA international break is a busy one for the Premier League and Liga MX. Here are your callouts:

• NBC tops 900k again this week with Manchester City v Southampton. Universo pulled 125k of the same match.

• Speaking of Universo, more PL games are popping up in the top 150 cable shows on the day. This year so far there have been a total of 7 games hit that threshold. In previous years (2020,21) there were only two (YOY to date). Average viewership is also up (89k, 84k, 97k by year).

• TUDN's coverage of Liga MX is something I'm keeping an eye on. YOY they are down 13%. I'm not close enough to know why, but I do know that they are in year three of no promotion and relegation and Liga de Expansión MX was implemented in 2020 as a way to stabilize the 2nd division. At the time of the decision, I felt that the energy around the league would erode, perhaps impacting quality. We are early days, of course, but with over 20 games played a 13% drop is enough to make note in book.

Liga MX on TUDN Jan 1-24
223k - 2020 (13 games)
224k - 2021 (20 games)
196k - 2022 (20 games)

• Variety had a good piece on MLS and their upcoming TV deal (MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER IS WRONG ABOUT THE VALUE OF ITS RIGHTS). They came in at $150m per year, which is the exact same number I have. I'll quote a lot of it here, the rest is behind a paywall, but if you want to read a text version go HERE
"...a fair fee for MLS rights would be one that puts it akin to the UCL; $150M annually would represent an increase of 67% on the current rights versus the 233% increase the MLS is seeking. This fee would also place the MLS at the right place on the popularity totem pole in the States, ahead of Serie A and Bundesliga but behind La Liga and the EPL. The constant bullish statements by MLS for valuation of the rights suggest it sees it otherwise, but the end date of the current rights deal, December 31, keeps creeping up. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see negotiations for the new deal take their time given the differences in valuation that currently exist."

• Don Garber optimistically stated that he expects the deal(s) to be done by the end of Q1 2022.

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US Cable Viewership: Soccer Programs Jan 18-24
Viewers (000)Event/GameNetworkDate
945NBC PREMIER LEAGUE - MAN CITY AT S'HAMPTONNBC1/22
363PREMIER LEAGUE L: BURNLEY/ARSENALUSA1/23
358LIGA MX SAT 2: AMERICA VS. ATLASTUDN1/22
349PREMIER LEAGUE L: NEWCASTLE/LEEDSUSA1/22
338PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA1/22
322PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA1/23
313PREMIER LEAGUE L: ASTON VILLA/EVERTONUSA1/22
285PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA1/22
283PREMIER LEAGUE L: CHELSEA/BRIGHTONUSA1/18
236LIGA MX SAT: LEON / PACHUCATUDN1/22
234PREMIER LEAGUE L: TOTTENHAM/LEICESTERUSA1/19
233LIGA MX L: MAZATLAN / TOLUCATUDN1/21
214PREMIER LEAGUE L: NORWICH/WATFORDUSA1/21
192PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA1/21
189LIGA MX SUN: UNAM / TIGRESTUDN1/23
171LIGA MX L: LEON / ATLASTUDN1/19
165PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA1/23
157PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA1/22
154PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA1/19
151LIGA MXFOX DEP1/22
127PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONEUSA1/21
125LIGA MX L: ATLETICO SAN LUIS / FC JU?REZTUDN1/20
125LIGA PREMIER: SOUTHAMPTON VS MAN CITYUNIVERSO1/22
121FUT-EST-CHIVAS-TEL-UNVSO: GUADA/QUERETAROUNIVERSO1/22
117FUTBOL CENTRAL LTUDN1/21
115LIGA PREMIER EXTRAUNIVERSO1/22
113LIGA MX FEMENIL L: AMERICA / MONTERREYTUDN1/24
101LINEA DE CUATRO LTUDN1/21
100PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONEUSA1/18
97FUTBOL PICANTE      LESPN DEP1/23
67LIGA PREMIER: LEEDS UNITED VS NEWCASTLEUNIVERSO1/22
57LIGA DE EXPANSION MX L: MORELIA / RAYA2TUDN1/23
44FUTBOL ESTEL CHIVAS EXTRAUNIVERSO1/22
27JUGADA, LA LF SUNTUDN1/23
26LIGA MX EN 60TUDN1/23

sources: showbuzzdaily, spoilertv, helltown

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

TV Soccer Viewership: Jan 11-17

With the holidays behind us, things are starting to shift back into gear for all things soccer on TV. Here are a few notes for Week 3, 2022...

• ESPN will be happy with the performance of the Super Copa. Barca v Real Madrid on ESPN topped 300k and pulled in another 100 from ESPN Deportes. ESPND and ESPN2 also have 3 additional Copa games make the list this week. "MLS-like" numbers.

• Man United v Aston Villa on NBC pulled a big 995k (+154k on Universo) last week. 

• Numbers were really strong for the PL on USA last week. The transition from NBCSN has gone well for them. I have the Premier League statistically flat, YOY (Jan 1-16: 300k 2021, 295k 2022).

• Liga MX continues to have solid numbers out of the gate for the Clausura part of their season on TUDN.

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US Cable Viewership: Soccer Programs Jan 11-17
Viewers (000)Event/GameNetworkDate
995NBC PREMIER LEAGUE: Man United / Aston VillaNBC1/15
549PREMIER LEAGUE L: BRENTFORD/LIVERPOOLUSA1/16
428PREMIER LEAGUE L: WATFORD/NEWCASTLEUSA1/15
328SUPER COPA FOOTBALL  L: BARCA/REAL MADRIDESPN1/12
320PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONEUSA1/16
306PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA1/15
303PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA1/15
300LIGA MX SAT 2: CRUZ AZUL / JUAREZTUDN1/15
268LIGA MX SAT: TIGRES / PUEBLATUDN1/15
236PREMIER LEAGUE L: CRYSTAL PALACE/BRIGHTONUSA1/14
225LIGA MX L: QUERETARO / UNAMTUDN1/14
220PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA1/16
212LIGA MX EF SUN: PACHUCA / CHIVASTUDN1/16
204PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA1/11
184PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA1/14
179PREMIER LEAGUE L: BRENTFORD/SOUTHAMPTONUSA1/11
175LIGA MX LTUDN1/14
167LIGA MX: SANTOS VS TIGRESFOX DEP1/12
154LIGA PREMIER: ASTON VILLA VS MAN UNITEDUNIVERSO1/15
153SUPER COPA    L: BARCELONA/MADRIDESPN DEP1/12
130LIGA MX L: ATLAS / CLUB ATLETICO DE SAN LUISTUDN1/15
119SUPER COPA    L: ATHLETIC BILBAO/REAL MADRIDESPN DEP1/16
115LIGA MX SUN: TOLUCA / SANTOSTUDN1/16
95SUPER COPA FOOTBALL  L: ATLETICO /ATHLETICESPN21/13
92PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONEUSA1/11
89SUPER COPA FOOTBALL  L: ATLETICO/ATHLETICESPN21/16
80LIGA MX FEMENIL L: TIGRES UANL/GUADALAJARATUDN1/17
80LINEA DE CUATRO LTUDN1/16
63LIGA PREMIER EXTRAUNIVERSO1/15
56LIGA MX FEMENIL L: UNAM /  AMERICATUDN1/15
43JUGADA, LA LF SUNTUDN1/16
39FUTBOL CENTRAL LTUDN1/16

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Top 161 Soccer Events of 2021 on US Cable TV

• 2021 was dominated by a postponed Euro 2020 which aired on the ESPN family of networks. Beyond that, we have US and Mexican national teams playing (often each other) in various Cup competitions.

• Liga MX (27 in top 161) and the Premier League (30 in top 161) are clearly the preferred soccer leagues in the US. Major League Soccer only managed to get two on the list.

• By Network

53: ESPN
51: TUDN
27: NBCSN
16: FS1
7: ESPN2
4: FOX DEPORTES
3: USA Network

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2021 US Cable Viewership: Top 161 Events (Top 10% of all events)
000sEvent/GameNetworkDate
5,851EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: ITALY/ENGLANDESPN7/11
3,435EURO TONIGHT  LESPN7/11
2,357EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: ENGLAND/DENMARKESPN7/7
2,273EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: BELGIUM/ITALYESPN7/2
2,163EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: ITALY/SPAINESPN7/6
1,871EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: FRANCE/SWITESPN6/28
1,836COPA AMERICA FINAL L: BRAZIL/ARGENTINAFS17/10
1,751CONCACAF GOLD CUP L: FINAL:USA/MEXICOFS18/1
1,664EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: PORTUGAL/GERESPN6/19
1,634EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: ENGLAND/GERMANYESPN6/29
1,538EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: SWEDEN/UKRAINEESPN6/29
1,494EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: CZECH/DENMARKESPN7/3
1,471EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: NETHERLANDS/CZECHESPN6/27
1,451EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: SWITZERLAND/SPAINESPN7/2
1,394EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: FRANCE/GERMANYESPN6/15
1,390EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: ENGLAND/SCOTLANDESPN6/18
1,315WORLD CUP QUAL MATCHES  L: USA/MEXICOESPN211/12
1,311EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: WALES/DENMARKESPN6/26
1,179EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: PORTUGAL/FRANCEESPN6/23
1,154EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: ITALY/WALESESPN6/20
1,122CONCACAF NATION LG 6/6: MEXICO VS USATUDN6/6
1,101EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: CROATIA/SPAINESPN6/28
1,045COPA ORO 2021 UNI 40: ESTADOS UNIDOS VS MEXICOTUDN8/1
1,036EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: NETHERLANDS/UKRAINEESPN6/13
1,035LIGA MX PT SUN: F: CRUZ AZUL VS SANTOSTUDN5/30
1,016EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: HUNGARY/FRANCEESPN6/19
999EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: CZECH/ENGLANDESPN6/22
988EUROPEAN CHAMP UPDATES  LESPN6/29
973PREMIER LEAGUE L: MANCHESTER CITY/LIVERPOOLNBCSN2/7
939EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: DENMARK/FINLANDESPN6/12
927EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: SPAIN/SWEDENESPN6/14
913COPA AMERICA 2021 28 UNI: BRASIL VS ARGENTINATUDN7/10
893EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: ITALY/SWITZERLANDESPN6/16
889COPA ORO 2021 UNI 29: MEXICO VS EL SALVADORTUDN7/18
888EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: NETHERLANDS/AUSTRIAESPN6/17
872EUROPEAN CHAMP UPDATES  LESPN6/19
867EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: AUSTRIA/MACEDONIAESPN6/13
863CONCACAF GOLD CUP L: SEMI:QATAR/USAFS17/29
863EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: ENGLAND VS CROATIAESPN6/13
862LIGA MX L: REPECHAJE: PACHUCA /CHIVASTUDN5/9
858LIGA MX PLAYOFFS: FNL:SANTOS VS CRUZ AZULFOX DEP5/27
854EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: DENMARK/BELGUIMESPN6/17
835LIGA MX PT SUN: SF: ATLAS/UNAMTUDN12/5
817EUROCOPA UEFA 2021 51 UNI: INGLATERRA VS ITALIATUDN7/11
776WORLD CUP QUALIFIER USA L: USA/CANADAFS19/5
774PREMIER LEAGUE L: MANCHESTER CITY/LIVERPOOLNBCSN10/3
772LIGA MX PT SUN: FINAL: ATLAS / LEONTUDN12/12
765EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: CROATIA/CZECHESPN6/18
763COPA AMERICA MATCH DAY LFS17/10
760PREMIER LEAGUE L: MAN UNITED/MAN CITYNBCSN3/7
758PREMIER LEAGUE L: MANCHESTER UNITED/CHELSEANBCSN2/28
757PREMIER LEAGUE L: MANCHESTER CITY/TOTTENHAMNBCSN8/15
752EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: HUNGARY/PORTUGALESPN6/15
748PREMIER LEAGUE L: CHELSEA/ARSENALNBCSN8/22
747CONCACAF GOLD CUP L: GS:MARTINIQUE/USAFS17/15
747EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: CROATIA/SCOTLANDESPN26/22
742COPA ORO 2021 UNI 39: MEXICO VS CANADATUDN7/29
739LIGA MX L: CUARTOS DE FINAL: TIGRES / SANTOSTUDN11/28
726EUROPEAN CHAMP UPDATES  LESPN26/20
719CONCACAF GOLD CUP L: GS: USA/HAITIFS17/11
719LIGA MX LTUDN11/28
715COPA ORO 2021 UNI 35: MEXICO VS HONDURASTUDN7/24
711UEFA EURO TODAYESPN6/13
706PREMIER LEAGUE L: LIVERPOOL/MANCHESTER UNITEDNBCSN10/24
705CONCACAF GOLD CUP L: QTR:USA/JAMAICAFS17/25
700EUROPEAN CHAMP UPDATES  LESPN6/18
694USA SOCCER WOMEN        L: USA/MEXICOESPN7/5
688LIGA MX L: CUARTOS DE FINAL: ATLAS / MONTERREYTUDN11/27
684UEFA EURO TODAYESPN6/15
680PREMIER LEAGUE L: MANCHESTER CITY/CHELSEANBCSN1/3
673SUB 23 OLYMPIC QUALIFIER: HONDURAS / MEXICOTUDN3/30
666LIGA MX SAT 2: AMERICA / GUADALAJARATUDN9/25
660EUROPEAN CHAMP UPDATES  LESPN6/17
660LIGA MX SAT 2: SF: LEON/TIGRESTUDN12/4
657LIGA MX: MONTERREY VS AMERICAFOX DEP1/16
653PREMIER LEAGUE L: MANCHESTER UNITED/WOLVESNBCSN8/29
651EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: RUSSIA/DENMARKESPN6/21
651WORLD CUP QUAL MATCHES  L: USA/COSTA RICAESPN210/13
648UEFA EURO TODAYESPN6/13
644COPA AMERICA 2021 26 UNI: SFTUDN7/6
644FUTBOL CENTRAL PT SUNTUDN7/18
643PREMIER LEAGUE L: LIVERPOOL/WEST HAMNBCSN11/7
641EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: TURKEY/ITALYESPN6/11
638UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SAT: F: MAN CITY V CHELSEATUDN5/29
637COPA ORO 2021 UNI 11: MEXICO VS TRINIDADTUDN7/10
624SELECCION NA?L MX LF SAT: MNT VS NIGERIATUDN7/3
623PREMIER LEAGUE L: TOTTENHAM/ARSENALNBCSN9/26
618EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: POLAND/SLOVAKIAESPN6/14
616SELECCION EE.UU. 11/12: ESTADOS UNIDOS / MEXICOTUDN11/12
614EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: TURKEY/WALESESPN6/16
614LIGA MX L: SF: PACHUCA / CRUZ AZULTUDN5/19
612CONCACAF MEN?S O.Q. 3/24: MEXICO VS USATUDN3/24
608LIGA MX THU: FINAL: LEON / ATLASTUDN12/9
607COPA AMERICA SF L: ARGENTINA/COLOMBIAFS17/6
607LIGA MX SAT: QF: CRUZ AZUL VS TOLUCATUDN5/15
606LIGA MX PT SUN: QF: AMERICA VS PACHUCATUDN5/16
603PREMIER LEAGUE L: ASTON VILLA/MAN UNITEDNBCSN1/1
596WORLD CUP QUAL MATCHES  L: USA/JAMAICAESPN210/7
594PREMIER LEAGUE L: LEEDS/ARSENALNBCSN2/14
592EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: UKRAINE/AUSTRIAESPN6/21
592PREMIER LEAGUE L: EVERTON/MANCHESTER UNITEDNBCSN2/6
590LIGA MX SAT: CUARTOS DE FINAL: AMERICA / UNAMTUDN11/27
585EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: WALES/SWITZERLANDESPN6/12
584LIGA MX L: CUARTOS DE FINAL: PUEBLA / LEONTUDN11/25
578PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSN9/19
576PREMIER LEAGUE L: TOTTENHAM/ARSENALNBCSN3/14
574COPA ORO 2021 UNI 19: GUATEMALA VS MEXICOTUDN7/14
573SUB 23 OLYMPIC QUALIFIER: MEXICO / CANADATUDN3/28
572PREMIER LEAGUE L: MAN UNITED/WEST HAMNBCSN9/19
568SHE BELIEVES CUP L: USA/BRAZILFS12/21
560CONCACAF NATION LG 2 6/3: MEXICO VS COSTA RICATUDN6/3
559COPA AMERICA 2021 24 UNI: ARGENTINA VS. ECUADORTUDN7/3
555FUTBOL CENTRAL PT SUNTUDN6/6
552PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSN5/2
546MLS REGULAR SEASON      L: ATLANTA/PHILADELPHIAESPN6/20
545LIGA MX L: SEMIFINAL: UNAM / ATLASTUDN12/2
543EUROPEAN CHAMP UPDATES  LESPN6/16
540EUROPEAN CHAMP UPDATES  LESPN6/21
537LIGA MX PLAYOFFS: SF:SANTOS VS PUEBLAFOX DEP5/20
537PREMIER LEAGUE L: NEWCASTLE/MANCHESTER UNITEDUSA9/11
534EUROPEAN CHAMP UPDATES  LESPN6/14
532EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: SLOVAKIA/SPAINESPN6/23
530SHE BELIEVES CUP L: USA/ARGENTINAFS12/24
525PREMIER LEAGUE L: MAN UNITED/MAN CITYNBCSN11/6
524PREMIER LEAGUE L: WEST HAM/MAN UNITEDNBCSN3/14
522EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL LESPN26/12
521LIGA MX PLAYOFFS: QF:SANTOS VS TIGRESFOX DEP11/25
515UEFA EURO TODAYESPN6/12
514SELECCION MEXICANA 10/7: MEXICO / CANADATUDN10/7
512EUROPEAN CHAMP FOOTBALL L: SWEDEN/SLOVAKIAESPN6/18
512LIGA MX L: REPECHAJE: CRUZ AZUL / MONTERREYTUDN11/21
509EUROPEAN CHAMP UPDATES  LESPN6/18
509LIGA MX PT SUN: SF: PUEBLA VS SANTOSTUDN5/23
509LIGA MX SAT: SF: CRUZ AZUL VS PACHUCATUDN5/22
505EUROPEAN CHAMP UPDATES  LESPN26/22
499LIGA MX SAT: REPECHAJE: PUEBLA / CHIVASTUDN11/20
499WOMENS INTL FRIENDLY L: USA/JAMAICAFS16/13
498MLS REGULAR SEASON: LAFC v SeattleESPN4/24
498SELECCION MEXICANA 10/10: MEXICO / HONDURASTUDN10/10
498SHE BELIEVES CUP L: USA/CANADAFS12/18
497CONCACAF C.L. FINAL 10/28: MONTERREY / AMERICATUDN10/28
496WOMENS INTL FRIENDLY L: USA/MEXICOFS17/1
494PREMIER LEAGUE L: BRIGHTON/MANCHESTER UNITEDNBCSN4/4
490LIGA MX WED: SEMIFINAL: TIGRES / LEONTUDN12/1
487PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSN2/14
485CAMPEON CAMPEONES 21 7/18: LEON VS CRUZ AZULTUDN7/18
480PREMIER LEAGUE L: MAN UNITED/LEICESTER CITYUSA10/16
476PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSN8/28
475PREMIER LEAGUE L: LIVERPOOL/LEEDSNBCSN9/12
468SELECCION MEXICANA 12/8: MEXICO VS CHILETUDN12/8
462LIGA MX L: QF: ATLAS/ PUEBLATUDN5/12
462PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIONBCSN2/7
461COPA AMERICA 2021 14 UMA: BRASIL VS. COLOMBIATUDN6/23
461PREMIER LEAGUE L: MANCHESTER UNITED/NEWCASTLEUSA12/27
460PREMIER LEAGUE L: LIVERPOOL/WEST BROMNBCSN5/16
459COPA AMERICA 2021 25 UNI: SEMIFINALTUDN7/5
457CONCACAF GOLD CUP L: SEMI:MEXICO/CANADAFS17/29
456LIGA MX L: REPECHAJE: LEON/ TOLUCATUDN5/9
455PREMIER LEAGUE L: LEEDS/TOTTENHAMNBCSN11/21
454COPA AMERICA SF L: BRAZIL/PERUFS17/5
453COPA AMERICA 2021 22 UMA: BRAZIL VS CHILETUDN7/2
Sources: showbuzzdaily, spoilertv, helltown