Wednesday, March 30, 2022

TV Soccer Viewership: MAR 22-28

Last week was light due to the men's international break, save for a surprise rating from the FA Women's Super League in England to talk about. 

NOTES:

• The US World Cup Qualifier vs. Panama won the week by managing to pull 1m viewers. It was on in a favorable timeslot, however. If you look at the top 10 by rating (/share of TVs turned on), the 0.41 it pulled doesn't make the top 10. The Premier League (4) and Champions League (6) own the top 10.

• Markets with an MLS team led in share for the FS1 USA qualifier, two were in Ohio (though, the post with the numbers has since been taken down). When FS1 (FOX) gets a USA match there tends to be more flag-waving and USA / MLS vs. the world conversations on social - which should surprise no one.

• The FA Women's Super League on NBC posted a broadcast number that was better than all the MLS numbers so far this year - 484k. The FAWSL, in my opinion, will be the league of choice for the best players going forward. The US does not understand the global soccer landscape nor does it nurture any sort of ground-up approach to the game, which is the lifeblood of the sport. Also, soccer in the US is filled with a bunch of creeps in high-level positions.

• MLS on ESPN tops 200k on for the first time this year (through 3 games). It wasn't the least-watched program on the network on the day (which it has been for the previous two games), but it was the 2nd least watched. Only the Sportscenter that aired directly after the game was lower. 

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US Cable Viewership: Soccer Programs Mar 22-28
Viewers (000)Event/GameNetworkDate
1,036WORLD CUP QUALIFIER USA L: USA/PANAMAFS13/27
484FA WOMENS SUPER LG 1Q1: MAN UNITED/EVERTONNBC3/27
292RUMBO AL MUNDIAL: HONDURAS VS MEXICOUNIVERSO3/27
266WORLD CUP QUAL POST LFS13/27
245MLS REGULAR SEASON  L: PORTLAND/ORLANDOESPN3/27
168LIGA DE EXPANSION MX L: CLUB AMERICA/TIGRESTUDN3/23
153FUTBOL CENTRAL THUTUDN3/24
150PARTIDO AMISTOSO 3/26: AMERICA/MONTERREYTUDN3/26
148RUMBO AL MUNDIAL: JAMAICA VS EL SALVADORUNIVERSO3/24
145RUMBO AL MUNDIAL: CANADA VS JAMAICAUNIVERSO3/27
140UEFA EUROPEAN QUALIF: PORTUGAL / TURQUIATUDN3/24
115WORLD CUP QUAL MATCHES: PORTUGAL/TURKEYESPN23/24
109WORLD CUP QUAL PREG LFS13/27
104RUMBO MUNDIAL ANTESALAUNIVERSO3/27
99RUMBO MUNDIAL – OBJ CATARUNIVERSO3/24
74FUTBOL CENTRAL EF SUNTUDN3/27
66FUTBOL MLS L: SPORTING KC / REAL SALT LAKETUDN3/26

sources: showbuzzdaily, spoilertv, helltown

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Eng-lang TV viewership leaderboard:

000s : Event
979 : Premier League - Broadcast
869 : World Cup Qualifiers - Concacaf
783 : UEFA Champions League - Broadcast
484 : FA Women's Super League - Broadcast
423 : MLS - Broadcast
317 : Premier League
295 : USMNT - Friendly
215 : USWNT - Friendly
180 : General Soccer
171 : MLS
118 : FIFA Club World Cup
115 : World Cup Qualifier - UEFA
114 : Concacaf Champions League
38 : Ligue 1

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

TV Soccer Viewership: MAR 15-21

Busy week! Here are the notes:

• TUDN tops the list for the first time this calendar year. The network has recovered after a poor start to the Clausura and is now +10% over last year (but still down -4% from the 2020 pandemic year). There are 6 match weeks left on the season.

• No soccer on broadcast TV last week (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX).

• Interest in the Concacaf Champions League remains low. The quarterfinal matchup between New England and Pumas did well on TUDN, but there's nothing outside that match. FOX has been putting most of these games on FS2 and they getting zero viewers.

• MLS was largely absent last week. Only one match was carried on Eng-lang TV and it got poor 109k. 

• Don Garber's league is only 7 days away from the self-imposed deadline for a new TV deal. I don't think it's getting done anytime soon and I have a feeling networks are sending MLS back to the drawing board in regards to its offering. I can see MLS separating their products (Leagues Cup, MLS regular season/playoffs, MLS Next, local games) to sell individually. 

• Liga MX on TUDN is averaging 30% fewer viewers than the Premier League on USA Network YTD.

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US Cable Viewership: Soccer Programs Mar 15-21
Viewers (000)Event/GameNetworkDate
467LIGA MX PT SUN: ATLAS / GUADALAJARATUDN3/20
456PREMIER LEAGUE L: WEST HAM/TOTTENHAMUSA3/20
423LIGA MX SAT 2: TIGRES UANL / MONTERREYTUDN3/19
350PREMIER LEAGUE L: BRENTFORD/LEICESTERUSA3/20
334LIGA MX LF SAT: PACHUCA / CRUZ AZULTUDN3/19
333PREMIER LEAGUE L: ARSENAL/ASTON VILLAUSA3/19
315CONCACAF LC – L: QF: NEW ENGLAND/ UNAMTUDN3/16
291LIGA MX EF SUN: AMERICA / TOLUCATUDN3/20
278PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA3/18
265PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA3/20
242LIGA MX L: PUEBLA / SANTOSTUDN3/18
213LIGA MX LTUDN3/20
209PREMIER LEAGUE L: LEEDS/WOLVESUSA3/18
208LIGA MX SAT: UNAM / NECAXATUDN3/19
204UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: MAN UNITED/ATLETICOTUDN3/15
203PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONEUSA3/19
192CONCACAF LC – L: QF: SEATTLE / LEONTUDN3/17
190CONCACAF LC – L: QF: CRUZ AZUL/MONTREALTUDN3/16
178PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA3/20
175UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 1: VILLARREAL/JUVETUDN3/16
174FUTBOL CENTRAL LTUDN3/17
164PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONEUSA3/20
158LIGA MX L: QUERETARO / ATLETICO SAN LUISTUDN3/17
158UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE 1: R16: BARCA/GALATASTUDN3/17
134CONCACAF CHAMP LEAGUE L: LEON/SEATTLEFS13/17
127CONCACAF LC – L: QF: NYCFC/COMUNICACIONESTUDN3/15
116PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA3/19
109MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER L: AUSTIN FC/SEATTLEFS13/20
91FUTBOL CENTRAL EF SUNTUDN3/20
46FUTBOL CENTRAL LTUDN3/19

sources: showbuzzdaily, spoilertv, helltown

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Here's the Eng-lang TV table by average viewers. All averages are cable unless marked "broadcast."

000s : Program
979 : EPL - Broadcast
785 : World Cup Qualifier
783 : UEFA Champions League - Broadcast
423 : MLS - Broadcast
317 : EPL
295 : USMNT
215 : USWNT
173 : General Soccer
160 : MLS
118 : FIFA Club World Cup
114 : Concacaf Champions League
38 : Ligue 1

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

TV Soccer Viewership: MAR 8-14

Busy week with UCL, CCL, MLS, Liga MX (Men and Women), and the Premier League all in action. 

Notes:

• The Champions League returned to CBS last week with (once again) solid numbers. The Eng-lang numbers are stellar (for live soccer) and the combined number for Real Madrid / PSG topped 1.1m viewers.

• No broadcast game for the Premier League last week but they did have two games top the MLS FOX broadcast. The Burnley/Brentford match getting over 400k is a surprise. 

MLS continues to be down measurably from last year. FOX is down 20% YOY from the first three games last year. ABC has not carried a game yet.

MLS on FS1 is consistently poor at sub 200s. Over on Twitter, there was an insightful comment made to me that said "MLS for all intents and purposes is a finished product," which means MLS is what it is going to be.

Liga MX on TUDN is fairly steady over last year. What's interesting to me is that Liga MX is taking a back seat to the UCL and a still-rising PL. I don't remember this happening over the last two years that I have been tracking.

• Clarical note: I don't think "CONCACAF WOMENS CHAMPS L: ARG / BOL" was categorized correctly by whoever fed it to Neilsen.

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US Cable Viewership: Soccer Programs Mar 8-14
Viewers (000)Event/GameNetworkDate
808UEFA CHAMP LEAGUE-RND16: REAL VS PSGCBS3/9
759UEFA CHAMP LEAGUE-RND16: LIVERPOOL V INTERCBS3/8
563PREMIER LEAGUE L: LEICESTER/ARSENALUSA3/13
407PREMIER LEAGUE L: BURNLEY/BRENTFORDUSA3/12
359MLS SOCCER: SEATTLE VS LA GALAXYFOX3/12
332UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: R16: REAL / PSGTUDN3/9
322PREMIER LEAGUE L: ASTON VILLA/WEST HAMUSA3/13
321LIGA MX SAT: CRUZ AZUL / UNAMTUDN3/12
316PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA3/12
300PREMIER LEAGUE L: MAN CITY/CRYSTAL PALACEUSA3/14
293FUT-EST-CHIVAS-TEL-UNVSO: GUADA VS AMERICAUNIVERSO3/12
270CONCACAF LC – L: QF: CRUZ AZUL / MONTREALTUDN3/9
236LIGA MX EF SAT: LEON / TIGRESTUDN3/12
223LIGA MX L: ATLETICO SAN LUIS / PUEBLATUDN3/13
216CONCACAF LC – L: QF: SEATTLE / LEONTUDN3/8
208PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONEUSA3/13
208CONCACAF LC – L: QF: NEW ENGLAND/ UNAMTUDN3/9
180UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE: BARCA / GALATASARAYTUDN3/10
170LIGA MX L: FC JUAREZ / ATLASTUDN3/11
158MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER L: ATLANTA/CHARLOTTEFS13/13
152UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: LIVERPOOL/INTERTUDN3/8
150PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA3/12
135CONCACAF LC – L: QF: NYCFC/COMUNICACIONESTUDN3/8
125LIGA MX SUN: TOLUCA / PACHUCATUDN3/13
118UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE: SEVILLA/WEST HAMTUDN3/10
109CONCACAF CHAMP LEAGUE L: QF1:SEATTLE/LEONFS13/8
104LIGA MX FEMENIL L: AMERICA / GUADALAJARATUDN3/13
98CONCACAF CHAMP LEAGUE1:NYCFC/COMUNIFS13/8
97FUTBOL MLS SAT: INTER MIAMI CF / LAFCTUDN3/12
96LINEA DE CUATRO LTUDN3/13
93CONCACAF WOMENS CHAMPS L: ARG / BOLTUDN3/12
85FUTBOL ESTEL CHIVAS EXTRAUNIVERSO3/12

sources: showbuzzdaily, spoilertv, helltown

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2022 Averages by League/Event. Eng-lang only. Cable TV (includes YTTV, HULU streaming) numbers unless noted.

000s : Program
979 : EPL - Broadcast
785 : World Cup Qualifier
783 : UEFA Champions League - Broadcast
423 : MLS - Broadcast
326 : EPL
295 : USMNT
215 : USWNT
173 : General Soccer
169 : MLS
118 : FIFA Club World Cup
104 : Concacaf Champions League
38 : Ligue 1