MLS Cup ratings fell substantially from last year, the Manchester Derby hit an EPL cable high, and Top Rank Boxing got a lift from the Heisman Trophy Presentation.
MLS Cup Ratings Down Big
Compared to the last MLS Cup on ESPN, which aired on a Sunday afternoon, ratings increased a tick from a 0.4 and viewership 20% from 668,000. Seattle led all markets for ESPN’s telecast with a 7.0.
On UniMas and Univision Deportes Network, the game had 304,000 viewers — down 49% from last year (601K) and down 40% from 2015 (506K). The combined audience of 1.1 million marks a 43% decline from last year (2.0M), down 3% from 2015 (1.2M), and a four-year low.
Manchester Derby Hits EPL Cable High
It was the most-watched Premier League match on cable since Leicester City clinched the 2016 title against Manchester United (908K).
Earlier in the morning, Liverpool-Everton had a 0.37 and 594,000. On Saturday, Newcastle-Leicester City had a 0.55 and 776,000 on the NBC broadcast network, while NBCSN drew a 0.25 and 367,000 for Tottenham-Stoke and a 0.20 and 305,000 for West-Ham Chelsea. The comparable week last season consisted of weekday matches.
Top Rank Gets Heisman Lift
Compared to last year’s post-Heisman program, the “Catholics vs. Convicts” 30 For 30 documentary, ratings fell 23% from a 1.3 and viewership 18% from 2.1 million. It topped only “Four Falls of Buffalo” in 2015 (1.5M) as ESPN’s least-watched post-Heisman show in a decade.
[Numbers from World Soccer Talk 12.12, ShowBuzz Daily 12.12, ESPN]
