A busy week 11 of league games was highlighted by a handful of events in the Premier League and MLS and one that falls on complete opposite sides of the sporting spectrum from Liga MX.
• NBC delivers another good number (900k) for their network broadcast of West Ham v. Liverpool. This marks the 5th game just this calendar year that has topped 900k.
• Major League Soccer had the second game of their 2022 season on network TV fall around where it always does for this time of the year. The first two games on FOX in 2022 pulled 482k and 489k. This year MLS has seen their product on FOX go 436k and 475k. Overall it's a drop of about -6%.
• MLS is suffering on ESPN where their viewership number is over 50% down from the previous two seasons. They also have a problem with viewers actively turning their TVs away from the league when a game comes on, only to return after the game is over to continue watching different programing.
• FS1 is statistically flat YOY.
• The Premier League remains about 14% over last year.
• Liga MX held perhaps the most violent soccer match of my adult life on Saturday when Queretaro faced Atlas. A huge fight broke out between fans in the stadium that left several people bloodied and lying naked on the ground. The Mexican federation has not confirmed fatalities, perhaps in fear of losing World Cup dates (there were clearly deaths), but did come down hard Querataro as far as sanctions.
• The ramifications of this horrific event will have far-reaching problems for both Liga MX, MLS, and Concacaf. MLS has not made a statement on the event, but I'm sure that networks will be asking some tough questions going forward with the Liga MX / MLS merged and expanded Leagues Cup next year.
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| US Cable Viewership: Soccer Programs Mar 1-7 |
| | | |
| Viewers (000) | Event/Game | Network | Date |
| 900 | NBC PREMIER LEAGUE WEST HAM AT LIVERPOOL | NBC | 3/5 |
| 874 | PREMIER LEAGUE L: MAN UNITED/MAN CITY | USA | 3/6 |
| 513 | PREMIER LEAGUE L: ARSENAL/WATFORD | USA | 3/6 |
| 490 | LIGA MX: MONTERREY VS AMERICA | FOX DEP | 3/5 |
| 475 | MLS SOCCER - CHARLOTTE FC VS LA GALAXY | FOX | 3/5 |
| 472 | PREMIER LEAGUE L: CHELSEA/BURNLEY | USA | 3/5 |
| 469 | PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIO | USA | 3/6 |
| 438 | LIGA MX L: AMERICA / QUERETARO | TUDN | 3/1 |
| 378 | LIGA MX SAT 2: CRUZ AZUL / PUEBLA | TUDN | 3/5 |
| 347 | LIGA MX L: TIGRES / CRUZ AZUL | TUDN | 3/2 |
| 334 | LIGA MX L: ATLETICO / CHIVAS | TUDN | 3/2 |
| 296 | PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONE | USA | 3/6 |
| 290 | LIGA MX L: FC JUAREZ / LEON | TUDN | 3/4 |
| 280 | PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIO | USA | 3/5 |
| 267 | PREMIER LEAGUE L: LEEDS/LEICESTER | USA | 3/5 |
| 243 | PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIO | USA | 3/5 |
| 240 | PREMIER LEAGUE L: EVERTON/TOTTENHAM | USA | 3/7 |
| 200 | LIGA MX L: QUERETARO / ATLAS | TUDN | 3/5 |
| 182 | MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER L: LA FC/PORTLAND | FS1 | 3/6 |
| 179 | LIGA MX L: TOLUCA / TIJUANA | TUDN | 3/1 |
| 177 | PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIO | USA | 3/6 |
| 167 | LIGA MX L: NECAXA / TOLUCA | TUDN | 3/4 |
| 154 | MLS REGULAR SEASON L: AUSTIN/INTER MIAMI | ESPN | 3/6 |
| 138 | FUTBOL CENTRAL L | TUDN | 3/5 |
| 112 | PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONE | USA | 3/7 |
sources: showbuzzdaily, spoilertv, helltown
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English Language leaderboard, 2022 to date (all programs on US Cable TV unless otherwise noted):
000s : Program
979 : EPL - Broadcast
785 : World Cup Qualifiers
782 : UEFA Champions League - Broadcast
456 : MLS - Broadcast
326 : EPL
295 : USMNT
215 : USWNT
173 : General Soccer
171 : MLS
118 : FIFA Club World Cup
38 : Ligue 1
