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

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Wednesday, March 9, 2022

TV Soccer Viewership: MAR 1-7

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/GameNetworkDate
900NBC PREMIER LEAGUE WEST HAM AT LIVERPOOLNBC3/5
874PREMIER LEAGUE L: MAN UNITED/MAN CITYUSA3/6
513PREMIER LEAGUE L: ARSENAL/WATFORDUSA3/6
490LIGA MX: MONTERREY VS AMERICAFOX DEP3/5
475MLS SOCCER - CHARLOTTE FC VS LA GALAXYFOX3/5
472PREMIER LEAGUE L: CHELSEA/BURNLEYUSA3/5
469PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA3/6
438LIGA MX L: AMERICA / QUERETAROTUDN3/1
378LIGA MX SAT 2: CRUZ AZUL / PUEBLATUDN3/5
347LIGA MX L: TIGRES / CRUZ AZULTUDN3/2
334LIGA MX L: ATLETICO / CHIVASTUDN3/2
296PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONEUSA3/6
290LIGA MX L: FC JUAREZ / LEONTUDN3/4
280PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA3/5
267PREMIER LEAGUE L: LEEDS/LEICESTERUSA3/5
243PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA3/5
240PREMIER LEAGUE L: EVERTON/TOTTENHAMUSA3/7
200LIGA MX L: QUERETARO / ATLASTUDN3/5
182MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER L: LA FC/PORTLANDFS13/6
179LIGA MX L: TOLUCA / TIJUANATUDN3/1
177PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA3/6
167LIGA MX L: NECAXA / TOLUCATUDN3/4
154MLS REGULAR SEASON L: AUSTIN/INTER MIAMIESPN3/6
138FUTBOL CENTRAL LTUDN3/5
112PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONEUSA3/7

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
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Wednesday, March 2, 2022

TV Soccer Viewership: FEB 22-28

Another busy week highlighted by the UEFA Champions League on network TV and the return of MLS. Before we get to the numbers... something new this year; below the normal weekly table I'll post up running averages by soccer league this year. 

NOTES:

• MLS had an opening weekend to forget - ESPN's game did poorly. Out of 112 ESPN programs rated last week, MLS landed 103rd for their opener on ESPN (the pregame show finished 109th).

• MLS had the lowest viewership of all ESPN programs on Sunday, Feb 7. This happens to MLS often and I feel that it has the network re-evaluating their relationship with the league.

• On aggregate, MLS opened 30% down over last year when comparing like for like openers. Last year the league started in April.

• The Champions League again tops the chart. This week featured two popular Premier League games so the numbers ticked up a bit from last week.

• TUDN's Liga MX coverage YOY has returned to zero. Until two weeks ago, it was trending down.

• Premier League is up 14% now YOY when looking at USA Network v NBCSN.

• Last note: US Soccer secured (effectively) their first TV deal outside the bubble of SUM (/MLS). It is between $25-27m a year for 8 years with WarnerMedia. It starts next year. WarnerMedia will use the games across multiple platforms (network and streaming). 

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US Cable Viewership: Soccer Programs Feb 22-28
Viewers (000)Event/GameNetworkDate
856UEFA CHAMP LEAGUE - ATHLETICO/MAN UNITEDCBS2/23
777UEFA CHAMP LEAGUE - CHELSEA / LILLECBS2/22
477PREMIER LEAGUE L: WATFORD/MAN UNITEDUSA2/26
436MLS SOCCER - PORTLAND / NEW ENGLANDFOX2/26
364LIGA MX SAT: UNAM / AMERICATUDN2/26
323PREMIER LEAGUE L: TOTTENHAM/LEEDSUSA2/26
320LIGA MX SUN: CRUZ AZUL / SANTOSTUDN2/27
317PREMIER LEAGUE L: WOLVES/WEST HAMUSA2/27
307PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA2/26
295USA SOCCER MEN          LESPN22/23
267PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA2/26
201LIGA MX L: QUERETARO / TOLUCATUDN2/24
194LIGA MX L: FC JUAREZ / TIGRESTUDN2/25
190MLS REGULAR SEASON      LESPN2/27
187UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: ATLETICO / MAN UTDTUDN2/23
181PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONEUSA2/27
179FUT-EST-CHIVAS-TEL-UNVSO: GUADA VS PUEBLAUNIVERSO2/26
174MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER: ATLANTA/KANSAS CITYFS12/27
168PREMIER LEAGUE L: NORWICH/SOUTHAMPTONUSA2/25
161UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE 1: NAPOLI / BARCELONATUDN2/24
161LIGA MX L: NECAXA / LEONTUDN2/25
153MLS REG SEASON PRELUDE LESPN2/27
138PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIOUSA2/27
137UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: VILLARREAL/JUVETUDN2/22
120LIGA MX L: PACHUCA / MAZATLANTUDN2/24
113MEXICAN FIRST DIVISION: MONTERREY/ATLETICOESPN DEP2/26
87FUTBOL CENTRAL LTUDN2/27
82LIGA MX: TIJUANA VS ATLASFOX DEP2/25

sources: showbuzzdaily, spoilertv, helltown

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As promised - The current averages (English language only) for soccer programs on TV. Broadcast events have been tagged as such. MLS highlighted.

Avg (000s) : Program
999 : EPL - Broadcast
817 : UEFA Champions League
785 : World Cup Qualifiers
748 : UEFA Champions League - Broadcast
436 : MLS - Broadcast
319 : Premier League
295 : USMNT
215 : USWNT
173 : General Soccer
172 : MLS
171 : Super Copa
118 : FIFA Club World Cup
38 : Ligue 1

Concacaf Champions League has only pulled a number on Span-lang TV (TUDN). FS2 has carried all the games except one. None have finished in the top 150 on the day they aired.
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