Mls Tv Ratings See Unexpected Boost In August On Espn

[bigapplepie]

August 9, 4-6pm ET: LA Galaxy vs. Seattle Sounders, ESPN: 549,000 viewers (+183,000 on ESPN Dep) 732,000
•August 23, 3-5pm ET: LA Galaxy vs. New York City FC, ESPN: 452,000 viewers
•August 30, 4:30-6:30pm ET: Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers, ESPN: 438,000 viewers

I think the LA/Seattle game had more viewers than any EPL game on NBC this season.

https://goo.gl/8td9o2

 

[Calmness Personified]

On the opening weekend of the EPL season, 1 million watched Chelsea vs Swansea and 626,000 watched Man United vs Spurs.

http://worldsoccertalk.com/2015/08/...nbcs-premier-league-opening-weekend-coverage/

 

[LionNYC]

On the opening weekend of the EPL season, 1 million watched Chelsea vs Swansea and 626,000 watched Man United vs Spurs.

http://worldsoccertalk.com/2015/08/...nbcs-premier-league-opening-weekend-coverage/

Well it's not like there's anything else to compete with (or even watch) at 8 AM on a Saturday/Sunday.

 

[bigapplepie]

12 noon.

Wouldn't it be great is MLS could get a contract where every game is shown nationally for free with a dozen or so games broadcast live on network TV?

 

[Mikeylito]

Wouldn't it be great is MLS could get a contract where every game is shown nationally for free with a dozen or so games broadcast live on network TV?

MLS is not going to get a better contract unless and until ratings strengthen on a regular basis.

I haven't kept running track of the numbers, but I'm not sure ratings are significantly better than years previous. (They're better, but significantly?) This with clearly defined broadcast windows and presentations.

We can't whine, moan and complain if we don't consume what's available to us.
We can... but it will all fall on deaf ears.

 

[mgarbowski]

I'm also not sure the rise in August is unexpected in that every game was intrinsically more likely to generate interest and viewership than a basic MLS game.
LA Galaxy v Seattle matches the league's glamour team against its biggest fanbase
LA Galaxy v NYCFC matches the league's glamour team against the NYC wanna-be glamour team
Seattle v Portland is the league's biggest rivalry

It is not exactly a surprise that these games would have larger-than-average audiences.