In the final year of its current television deal, Major League Soccer had across-the-board increases for regular season coverage.
ESPN and ESPN2 averaged a 0.2 rating and 240,000 viewers for MLS regular season coverage, flat in ratings and up 9% in viewership from last year (0.2, 220K). ESPN Deportes, which aired four fewer telecasts than ESPN/ESPN2, averaged 42,000 viewers — up 31% from last year (32K).
Despite the increase, this season was the second-least watched on ESPN/ESPN2 since at least 2008. The networks lost major steam as the season progressed, as viewership was up a whopping 51% through late September.
Compared to other sports, MLS tied the WNBA regular season on ESPN2 (240K) and trailed IndyCar on NBCSN (378K). The English Premier League, at last count, was averaging 432,000 viewers on NBCSN.
Speaking of NBCSN, the network averaged 141,000 viewers for its MLS coverage — up 26% from last year (112K). NBCSN also saw its gains narrow as the season concluded, as viewership was up 42% through late September.
The MLS got a solid boost from NBCSN’s EPL coverage. Five telecasts that had a direct lead-in from the EPL averaged an above-average 194,000 viewers. Including four other telecasts that aired after EPL studio coverage, the average was 186,000. This season was the last for MLS on NBCSN, meaning those EPL lead-ins will be a thing of the past — at least for now.
Finally, the NBC broadcast network averaged 553,000 viewers for its two-match MLS coverage — the network’s highest MLS average since acquiring rights.
(Season avg. from ESPN, NBC Sports)
