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/Game | Network | Date |
| 993 | UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE-SEMI: MAN CITY V REAL | CBS | 4/26 |
| 805 | UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE-SEMI: L'POOL V VILLA | CBS | 4/27 |
| 712 | NBC PREMIER LEAGUE: MAN CITY V LEEDS | NBC | 4/30 |
| 552 | PREMIER LEAGUE L: ARSENAL/WEST HAM | USA | 5/1 |
| 468 | PREMIER LEAGUE L: CHELSEA/EVERTON | USA | 5/1 |
| 453 | CONCACAF CHAMP LEAG WED: UNAM / SEATTLE | TUDN | 4/27 |
| 427 | LIGA MX SAT 2: AMERICA / CRUZ AZUL | TUDN | 4/30 |
| 402 | PREMIER LEAGUE L: LIVERPOOL/NEWCASTLE | USA | 4/30 |
| 359 | PREMIER LEAGUE L: BRENTFORD/MAN UNITED | USA | 5/2 |
| 336 | PREMIER LEAGUE L: CHELSEA/MANUNITED | USA | 4/28 |
| 324 | LIGA MX L: LEON / TOLUCA | TUDN | 5/1 |
| 295 | LIGA MX L: MAZATLAN / PUEBLA | TUDN | 4/29 |
| 295 | LIGA MX SAT: ATLAS VS. TIGRES UANL | TUDN | 4/30 |
| 287 | PREMIER LEAGUE L: BURNLEY/WATFORD | USA | 4/30 |
| 281 | LIGA MX FRI: NECAXA / CHIVAS GUADALAJARA | TUDN | 4/29 |
| 260 | PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIO | USA | 4/30 |
| 247 | UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: SF: MAN CITY / REAL | TUDN | 4/26 |
| 240 | MLS REGULAR SEASON L: NASHVILLE/PHI | ESPN | 5/1 |
| 234 | PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIO | USA | 4/30 |
| 210 | PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIO | USA | 4/30 |
| 197 | PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIO | USA | 5/2 |
| 177 | UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: SF: L'OOL/ VILLARREAL | TUDN | 4/27 |
| 173 | PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIO | USA | 5/1 |
| 158 | PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONE | USA | 5/1 |
| 158 | LIGA MX SUN: UNAM / PACHUCA | TUDN | 5/1 |
| 150 | LIGA MX L: ATLETICO SAN LUIS/SANTOS LAGUNA | TUDN | 5/1 |
| 146 | MISION EUROPA L | TUDN | 4/26 |
| 145 | CONCACAF CHAMP LEAGUE L: FIN:UNAM/SEATTLE | FS1 | 4/27 |
| 144 | PREMIER LG LIVE STUDIO | USA | 4/28 |
| 137 | LIGA MX L: QUERETARO / JUAREZ | TUDN | 4/30 |
| 126 | PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONE | USA | 5/2 |
| 115 | PREMIER LEAGUE GOAL ZONE | USA | 4/28 |
| 114 | FUTBOL CENTRAL L | TUDN | 5/1 |
| 102 | MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER L: LAFC/MINNESOTA | FS1 | 5/1 |
| 82 | UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE L: WEST HAM/EINTRACHT | TUDN | 4/28 |
| 78 | MISION EUROPA L | TUDN | 4/27 |
| 76 | FUTBOL CENTRAL L | TUDN | 4/27 |
| 76 | LIGA MX FEMENIL: TIJUANA VS JUAREZ | FOXD | 5/2 |
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.
| 000s | Program - Broadcast | Count |
| 873 | Premier League | 8 |
| 802 | UEFA Champions League | 12 |
| 484 | FA Women's Super League | 1 |
| 450 | MLS - ABC | 1 |
| 438 | USWNT | 1 |
| 437 | MLS - FOX | 4 |
| 434 | Bundesliga | 1 |
| 412 | NWSL | 2 |
| 396 | La Liga | 1 |
| 000s | Program (Cable) | Count |
| 869 | World Cup Qualifier - Concacaf | 3 |
| 417 | Premier League | 67 |
| 295 | USMNT | 1 |
| 229 | Premier League - Studio | 89 |
| 213 | MLS - ESPN | 11 |
| 190 | USWNT | 2 |
| 158 | World Cup Qualifier - UEFA | 2 |
| 139 | MLS - FS1 | 9 |
| 131 | Concacaf Champions League | 6 |
| 118 | FIFA Club World Cup | 1 |
| 37 | Ligue 1 | 2 |
