DISQUS

betsy's bolton bum baster · 1 year ago

Where did you find this information? great news though. seems as though these games are outdrawing the Jim Rome('s ass) is Burning show which airs during the same time period. Isn't that just lovely? GOTTA LOVE IT!!

Jeff Hash · 1 year ago

To answereyour question Betsy, the numbers are from an ESPN press release made today.

Jeff Hash · 1 year ago

...answer your. How did that happen?

The Gaffer · 1 year ago

That's great news about ESPN's ratings. My concern for ABC is that since it's a one-off game, other than the final, that there's little chance of hype or suspense being built up to help the network can large ratings on Saturday.

The other thing is that I totally forgot it was going to be on ABC instead of ESPN this weekend. I wonder how many other people will do that after getting so used to taping the games on ESPN networks?

Cheers,
The Gaffer

betsy's bolton bum baster · 1 year ago

if 1 million watch spain/sweden on the weekend i can only imagine how many will watch this weekend's games. the ratings should be very very good.

Angelo · 1 year ago

great post, i dont know why but i love seeing futebol rise in America, in terms of ratings, tv time, highlights on sportcenter,etc

where can i find ESPN's press release and when is the next one coming out ?

kkfla737 · 1 year ago

I'm hearing from a very reliable source that ESPN isn't happy with the performance of their MLS package and being stuck with so many poor matchups while FSC and HDNet seemingly get better game as well as the fact that ratings will likely be nowhere near the projected or I should say hoped for 1.5 million homes per match by 2010.

If ESPN dumps MLS that will open up some time for other soccer. I'd love to see some WC qualifying but the problem is that UEFA and CONCACAF allow individual nations to sell the rights to their home matches to networks in other nations. So it complicates the process.

Also I should point out if ESPN does dump MLS, the league is likely to fold or at least contract substantially and perhaps need to strike a deal with the UMBRO ownded USL-1 league, our second division.

Hudsonland · 1 year ago

They're not exactly pushing their own MLS coverage during the Euro games. The NBA finals have been promoted much harder.

betsy's bolton bum baster · 1 year ago

i think the mls can survive on fsc, but if espn creates a soccer only network then there should be plenty of room for mls on there right? seeing as it is the only soccer that is played american prime-time.

kkfla737 · 1 year ago

True, but if ESPN creates a soccer only network they'd be better of getting the Mexican League with quality football and passion, unlike MLS which at times lacks the first and always lacks the later.

However, I think this may be worked out with more "flex scheduling" like the NFL. ESPN's anger apparently revolves around being forced to show bad teams a certain number of times. If they had LA, DC or CHI every week they'd have much higher ratings. But FSC and HDNet want a certain number of games with Beckham and Blanco. That's really the problem.

olivert · 1 year ago

John Skipper was delusional when he thought that MLS would eventually become big.

(I honestly didn't think MLS can get to 500,000 households, much less than 1 million households, on average on ESPN2 by 2014.)

MLS is what it is: a 3rd tier league designed to develop kids so that a handful of them will be sold to European clubs for a profit.

I watched 45 minutes of San Jose vs LA Galaxy a week ago. The quality of play was bad, with players who can't control the ball with their first touch.

ESPN will have to make a decision on MLS after 2010.

My suspicion: MLS will go back to being a "time buy" for the start of the 2011 season.

kkfla737 · 1 year ago

BTW, another thing I heard is that Nike senses MLS weakness and when the UMBRO acquisition is final they are planning on being more aggressive in marketing USL than UMBRO was. What this will lead to is anyones guess. A stronger second division or a replacement for the current first division.

Also it is my assumption that MLS is only still in business today because of the large amount of $$$ SUM, the league's marketing arm makes off the Mexican National Team's many friendlies and WC qualifiers held on US soil. That money has kept MLS afloat, IMO.

Paul Bestall · 1 year ago

I disagree, I think MLS has shown massive growth in the last 12 months. Relatively speaking, it's still in it's infancy and has always faced getting itself into the average american sporting psyche. American Football, Baseball, Ice Hockey and Basketball have had the monopoly for decades but I think things are changing. Once the MLS can offer salaries that match those available in the NBA, NFL and MLB you'll see more and people begin to view it on an equal footing. Ten years time, Soccer will be a top 5 American sport. You just need to discover a footballing Michael Jordan who'll pull people in.

Anonymous · 1 year ago

like who? david beckham??? haha

Kartik · 1 year ago

A fundamental problem is most Anglicized American soccer fans are used to a European style product. They are willing to watch MLS and give it a chance but the league is very latin in its style and with the exception of the Central Americans who do like MLS, most latins in the US have checked out on it. So the European soccer fan cannot recognize the product and thus trashes it even though by Latin standards it is certainly an above average league. The Latins won't watch because they can watch their own league. What you have left a listless product which has been propped up by the shrewd financial managment of Garber and Gazids, but whose future is bleak if somehow either the US or Mexico were to miss a World Cup in the near future and I believe unless things change one or the other will miss WC 2010. Second Choice Sven may become last choice Sven after it is all said and done.

olivert · 1 year ago

Back to Euro 2008 ratings on ESPN2: 0.5% was on the "low end" of my own estimate of what ESPN2 should be getting for 1st round broadcasts.

No one expected World Cup-like numbers (i.e. 0.8% to 1.0%). Euro Championship is NOT the World Cup.

I am expecting a 1.2% to 1.5% rating for the final on ABC, especially if two "big" teams were to clash, i.e. Germany vs Italy.

eplnfl · 1 year ago

Excellent news on Euro 08. The American public will respond to quality soccer and first rate production. Well done ESPN. Keep up the good work. It is important that any new soccer programming retains top-flight production.

As to the MLS issue or non issue, events like Euro 08 and the great Champions League finals this year will attract American viewers to MLS. Will they remain happy with the MLS product? If the product continues to grow and improve, then yes. Are the friendlies with European/Mexican clubs very attractive? Well, I just bought two tickets to the Fire-Everton game. I'm looking for good seats to the Barcelona game in Chicago this summer and expect to get back out to see the Fire. I've seen the Fire already this summer and then the USA has a qualifier in September in Chicago. So, you tell me if soccer isn't growing in the US! Oh, forgot that I couldn't get to the Mexico v. Peru friendly at Soldiers Field a couple weeks ago. With the US economy going down the drain just where and how one should one spend one's limited resources. Watch more soccer on ESPN!

Phil McThomas · 1 year ago

I'm lapping up the HD action on ESPN. It would be awesome to get the Prem in HD, but that ain't gonna happen with FSC (their words).

But, is HD worth it to have to listen to Tommy Smyth?

eplnfl · 1 year ago

Given that Italy v. Germany will draw a bigger audience then Man C. v. Bolton, but isn't it all about production values with the ESPN/FSC comparison. Phil is right HD makes a world of difference. Watch the ABC game to see the difference if you haven't already, and have a HD set, but FSC, despite their efforts to improve their products, need a 21st century production, and not a 60's studio.