So far this year, some of the smaller pro sports leagues have seen either flat or increasing ratings for national telecasts.
The Arena Football League averaged a 0.2 cable rating with 274,000 viewers for 17 regular season telecasts on ESPN2, flat in ratings but up 12% in total viewers from last year. To put that in perspective, regular season NHL telecasts on Versus averaged 272,000 viewers last season.
The highest rated game on ESPN2 was Sabercats/Rush on March 3, which drew a 0.4 with 448,000 viewers, one of only five times during the season that an AFL game drew at least 300,000 viewers. The lone AFL regular season telecast on ABC (Desperados/Force on March 1) drew a 0.6 national rating, down 40% from the comparable game last year.
Through the end of June, six WNBA telecasts on ESPN2 have averaged a 0.2 cable rating with 250,000 viewers, even with last year. Excluding games after June 10, the highest rated and most watched game on ESPN2 was Fever/Sun on May 27, which drew a 0.3 cable rating with 297,000 viewers.
Excluding the Silver Stars/Mystics telecast yesterday, four WNBA games on ABC have averaged a 0.6 rating with 747,000 viewers, up 20% from last year. The highest rated game was the season opener between the Sparks and Mercury, which drew a 0.8 rating with 1.1 million viewers.
Through May 29, MLS telecasts on ESPN2 averaged a 0.2 cable rating with 279,000 viewers, flat in ratings but up 8% in total viewers from last year. To put that in perspective, Euro 2008 telecasts on ESPN and ESPN2 averaged a 0.6 rating.
ABC drew a 0.9 rating with 1.2 million viewers for its first MLS telecast this season, a matin?e between the Galaxy and United on June 29 that preceded the Euro 2008 final.
Regular season ratings/viewership for AFL, MLS, WNBA.
games televised on cable
MLS: 0.2 cable rating, 279,000 viewers (ESPN2; 9 telecasts through May 29)
AFL: 0.2 cable rating, 274,000 viewers (ESPN2; 17 telecasts)
WNBA: 0.2 cable rating, 250,000 viewers (ESPN2; 6 telecasts)
games televised on broadcast; ratings only
MLS: 0.9 rating (ABC; 1 telecast)
WNBA: 0.6 rating (ABC; 4 telecasts)
AFL: 0.6 rating (ABC; 1 telecast)
