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/Game	Network	Date
467	LIGA MX PT SUN: ATLAS / GUADALAJARA	TUDN	3/20
456	PREMIER LEAGUE L: WEST HAM/TOTTENHAM	USA	3/20
423	LIGA MX SAT 2: TIGRES UANL / MONTERREY	TUDN	3/19
350	PREMIER LEAGUE L: BRENTFORD/LEICESTER	USA	3/20
334	LIGA MX LF SAT: PACHUCA / CRUZ AZUL	TUDN	3/19
333	PREMIER LEAGUE L: ARSENAL/ASTON VILLA	USA	3/19
315	CONCACAF LC – L: QF: NEW ENGLAND/ UNAM	TUDN	3/16
291	LIGA MX EF SUN: AMERICA / TOLUCA	TUDN	3/20
278	PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIO	USA	3/18
265	PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIO	USA	3/20
242	LIGA MX L: PUEBLA / SANTOS	TUDN	3/18
213	LIGA MX L	TUDN	3/20
209	PREMIER LEAGUE L: LEEDS/WOLVES	USA	3/18
208	LIGA MX SAT: UNAM / NECAXA	TUDN	3/19
204	UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: MAN UNITED/ATLETICO	TUDN	3/15
203	PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONE	USA	3/19
192	CONCACAF LC – L: QF: SEATTLE / LEON	TUDN	3/17
190	CONCACAF LC – L: QF: CRUZ AZUL/MONTREAL	TUDN	3/16
178	PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIO	USA	3/20
175	UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 1: VILLARREAL/JUVE	TUDN	3/16
174	FUTBOL CENTRAL L	TUDN	3/17
164	PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONE	USA	3/20
158	LIGA MX L: QUERETARO / ATLETICO SAN LUIS	TUDN	3/17
158	UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE 1: R16: BARCA/GALATAS	TUDN	3/17
134	CONCACAF CHAMP LEAGUE L: LEON/SEATTLE	FS1	3/17
127	CONCACAF LC – L: QF: NYCFC/COMUNICACIONES	TUDN	3/15
116	PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIO	USA	3/19
109	MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER L: AUSTIN FC/SEATTLE	FS1	3/20
91	FUTBOL CENTRAL EF SUN	TUDN	3/20
46	FUTBOL CENTRAL L	TUDN	3/19

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