The 2010 MLS Cup sank to record lows on ESPN.
Sunday’s Rapids/FC Dallas MLS Cup earned a 0.44 U.S. rating and 748,000 viewers on ESPN, down 35% in ratings and 34% in viewership from last year (RSL/LA: 0.68, 1.141 mil, ESPN), and down 24% and 18%, respectively, from 2008 (CMB/NY: 0.58, 907,000, ABC).
This marks the lowest rated, least-viewed MLS Cup ever on English-language television. The MLS Cup has now failed to draw at least 1% of U.S. television households for nine straight years.
For some perspective, the MLS Cup finished with the same rating as the MLS All-Star Game on ESPN2 in July (0.44, 714,000).
According to the Associated Press, Sunday’s match also earned a 0.1 and 232,000 viewers on Galavision.
Even with the low numbers, the MLS Cup still outdrew ESPN’s two-game coverage of the 2010 WNBA Finals (0.36, 516,000). Additionally, the telecast drew more viewers than every IndyCar race and every NHL regular season game ever on Versus.
Ratings/Viewership For MLS Cup Since 1996
| Year | Date | Match | Net | Rating | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Sun., 11/21/10 | Rapids/FC Dallas | ESPN |
0.4
|
748
|
| 2009 | Sun., 11/22/09 | Real Salt Lake/Galaxy | ESPN |
0.7
|
1,141
|
| 2008 | Sun., 11/23/08 | Crew/Red Bulls | ABC |
0.6
|
907
|
| 2007 | Sun., 11/18/07 | Dynamo/Revolution | ABC |
0.8
|
1,097
|
| 2006 | Sun., 11/12/06 | Revolution/Dynamo | ABC |
0.8
|
1,245
|
| 2005 | Sun., 11/13/05 | Galaxy/Revolution | ABC |
0.8
|
1,137
|
| 2004 | Sun., 11/14/04 | Wizards/United | ABC |
0.8
|
—
|
| 2003 | Sun., 11/23/03 | Fire/Earthquakes | ABC |
0.6
|
876
|
| 2002 | Sun., 10/20/02 | Revolution/Galaxy | ABC |
0.8
|
1,169
|
| 2001 | Sun., 10/21/01 | Galaxy/Earthquakes | ABC |
1.0
|
—
|
| 2000 | Sun., 10/15/00 | Fire/Wizards | ABC |
0.7
|
—
|
| 1999 | Sun., 11/21/99 | United/Galaxy | ABC |
0.7
|
—
|
| 1998 | Sun., 10/25/98 | Fire/United | ABC |
1.0
|
—
|
| 1997 | Sun., 10/26/97 | Rapids/United | ABC |
1.4
|
—
|
| 1996 | Sun., 10/20/96 | United/Galaxy | ABC |
1.4
|
—
|
(Ratings/viewership from ESPN; additional information from Associated Press via USA Today)
