Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Soccer Viewership: APR 26 - MAY 2

We are deep into the busy soccer territory of the soccer calendar right now with another 38 events to report.

Highlights/Lowlights:

• Champions League on CBS tops the list this week by edging out the Premier League on NBC. The success of the PL is likely driving UCL viewership, but it's probably taken hold enough that non-PL matchups next year will still pull +700k.

• Another two strong USA Network PL games around 500k. Arsenal v West Ham is mildly surprised at a big 552k. It puts it 10th on the calendar year for the network. Arsenal is a bit behind Man City, United, Liverpool, and Chelsea as a regular "hit" in the ratings.

CONCACAF Champions League on TUDN jumps over Liga MX matches last week. CCL MLS v Liga MX draws do well on Span-lang but terrible on Eng-lang.

• Liga MX - Women jump on the list this week, but not on the normal TUDN network. This week it is Fox Deportes (76k). There appears to be a glimmer of interest in this completely non-promoted competition.

• MLS had another bad week. Barely a pulse on FS1 and on ESPN the league continues to be drawing about half of last year average audience.

• Clerical Note: I've separated PL games from Studio shows in my reporting of YOY +/- numbers and Leaderboards. With that, the PL is +32% YOY (and +6% over 2020).

• A light week for Liga MX puts them down 10% YOY (down 9% from 2020). I still contend that removing their version of promotion and relegation will continue to erode interest in the league.

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US TV Viewership: Soccer Programs Apr 26 - May 2
Viewers (000)Event/GameNetworkDate
993UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE-SEMI: MAN CITY V REALCBS4/26
805UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE-SEMI: L'POOL V VILLACBS4/27
712NBC PREMIER LEAGUE: MAN CITY V LEEDSNBC4/30
552PREMIER LEAGUE L: ARSENAL/WEST HAMUSA5/1
468PREMIER LEAGUE L: CHELSEA/EVERTONUSA5/1
453CONCACAF CHAMP LEAG WED: UNAM / SEATTLETUDN4/27
427LIGA MX SAT 2: AMERICA / CRUZ AZULTUDN4/30
402PREMIER LEAGUE L: LIVERPOOL/NEWCASTLEUSA4/30
359PREMIER LEAGUE L: BRENTFORD/MAN UNITEDUSA5/2
336PREMIER LEAGUE L: CHELSEA/MANUNITEDUSA4/28
324LIGA MX L: LEON / TOLUCATUDN5/1
295LIGA MX L: MAZATLAN / PUEBLATUDN4/29
295LIGA MX SAT: ATLAS VS. TIGRES UANLTUDN4/30
287PREMIER LEAGUE L: BURNLEY/WATFORDUSA4/30
281LIGA MX FRI: NECAXA / CHIVAS GUADALAJARATUDN4/29
260PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA4/30
247UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: SF: MAN CITY / REALTUDN4/26
240MLS REGULAR SEASON  L: NASHVILLE/PHIESPN5/1
234PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA4/30
210PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA4/30
197PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA5/2
177UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: SF: L'OOL/ VILLARREALTUDN4/27
173PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA5/1
158PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONEUSA5/1
158LIGA MX SUN: UNAM / PACHUCATUDN5/1
150LIGA MX L: ATLETICO SAN LUIS/SANTOS LAGUNATUDN5/1
146MISION EUROPA LTUDN4/26
145CONCACAF CHAMP LEAGUE L: FIN:UNAM/SEATTLEFS14/27
144PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA4/28
137LIGA MX L: QUERETARO / JUAREZTUDN4/30
126PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONEUSA5/2
115PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONEUSA4/28
114FUTBOL CENTRAL LTUDN5/1
102MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER L: LAFC/MINNESOTAFS15/1
82UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE L: WEST HAM/EINTRACHTTUDN4/28
78MISION EUROPA LTUDN4/27
76FUTBOL CENTRAL LTUDN4/27
76LIGA MX FEMENIL: TIJUANA VS JUAREZFOXD5/2

sources: showbuzzdaily, spoilertv, helltown

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LEADERBOARDS
These tables are Eng-lang averages. They are separated by broadcast (CBS, ABC, FOX) and pay TV (traditional cable, YouTube TV, and Hulu Live).

Upon the request of @jheaps4, I have added some granularity to these tables. MLS is now separated by network. I've also separated Premier League Games from Studio shows.

000sProgram - BroadcastCount
873Premier League8
802UEFA Champions League12
484FA Women's Super League1
450MLS - ABC1
438USWNT1
437MLS - FOX4
434Bundesliga1
412NWSL2
396La Liga1


000sProgram (Cable)Count
869World Cup Qualifier - Concacaf3
417Premier League67
295USMNT1
229Premier League - Studio89
213MLS - ESPN11
190USWNT2
158World Cup Qualifier - UEFA2
139MLS - FS19
131Concacaf Champions League6
118FIFA Club World Cup1
37Ligue 12

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