DISQUS

EPL Talk: Next U.S. TV Contract for Premiership: "$20 Million"

  • Oliver Tse · 2 years ago
    The EPL is NOT the most expensive soccer television product in the U.S. from a rights fee stand point.


    Not even close.



    The U.S. TV rights fee to Mexican First Division matches in the next TV contract cycle should approach $100 million a year.



    The Mexican First Division is definitely worth more as a TV product in the U.S. than the National Hockey League (NHL).



    In particular, the only NHL games during the 2005-2006 season that can draw more viewers than the Chivas Guadalajara-Club America "superclasico" are Games 3-7 of the 2006 NHL Stanley Cup Final series.



    The latest "superclasico", which aired on Univision on December 10 at 9pm ET/6pm PT, drew over 2 million U.S. TV households and nearly 4 million U.S. TV viewers age 2 and over.



    One would have to go all the way back to the defunct North American Soccer League (NASL) telecasts on ABC Sports during the 1979 season, before ESPN was even launched, to find 2 million U.S. TV households tuning to a professional club soccer match.
  • deeplennon · 2 years ago
    Nice comment.


    Not surprising, but interesting.
  • The Gaffer · 2 years ago
    Oliver,


    I stand corrected. But, bloody hell! I would have never thought that Mexican football was so expensive in terms of TV rights.



    Judging by the TV number you shared though, it seems justified.



    Cheers,

    The Gaffer