Major League Soccer on television

Major League Soccer has been broadcast live in the United States nationally since the league's inception in 1996 and in Canada since 2007.[1] As of the 2023 season, Apple Inc. is the primary global rights holder and streams every regular season and playoff match on MLS Season Pass – a service in the Apple TV app. Some matches are also broadcast on television via Fox Sports in the United States, and Bell Media (via TSN and RDS) in Canada.[2]

United States television

[edit]
See also: History of Major League Soccer

1990s–2006

[edit]

Major League Soccer with ESPN and ABC Sports announced the league's first television rights deal on March 15, 1994, without any players, coaches, or teams in place. The three-year agreement covered English-language broadcasting for the 1996–1998 seasons, and committed 10 matches on ESPN, 25 on ESPN2, and the MLS Cup on ABC. The deal gave MLS no rights fees, but the advertising revenue was divided between the league and networks.[3]

During the 1990s, Univision and Galavisión broadcast matches in Spanish. The original Univision deal ended in 1999.[4] Telemundo picked up MLS in 2000,[5] but disputes over time slots led to the network dropping MLS after the 2001 season.[6] ABC and ESPN were left as the only MLS broadcasters in 2002.

In 2003, Fox Sports World (later Fox Soccer Channel) also became an English-language TV partner to MLS, while Fox Sports en Español became the Spanish-language partner in the same year.[7]

2007–2014

[edit]

In August 2006, MLS and ESPN announced an eight-year contract spanning 2007–2014 giving the league its first rights-fee agreement worth US$8 million annually. The deal gave the MLS a regular primetime slot on Thursdays, televised coverage of the first round of the MLS SuperDraft and an expanded presence on other ESPN properties, such as ESPN360 (now ESPN3) and Mobile ESPN. The agreement also placed each season's opening match, the MLS All-Star Game and the MLS Cup on ABC.[8]

In September 2006, the media announced a deal between the Univision network and Soccer United Marketing (SUM) worth US$80 million. The network agreed to broadcast 25 MLS matches per season, ten U.S. men's national team matches and five international matches operated by SUM;[9] although, ratings were volatile.[10]

Disappointing ratings led to a 2008 push by ESPN to bolster its popularity through measures such as using JP Dellacamera, a veteran play-by-play soccer commentator, instead of baseball announcer Dave O'Brien, as well as an arrangement to simulcast MLS matches in Spanish on ESPN Deportes, with the intention of gaining additional Hispanic viewers with a Spanish style. ESPN programming executive Scott Guglielmino explained: "From my perspective, the only question in my mind when it comes to growth is how quickly over time MLS and its management group want to spend on players ... You’re in a worldwide market. The question is how quickly the ownership group wants to push that envelope."[7]

After two years of low ratings, network executives decided to transfer all ABC matches to ESPN. The MLS Cup had been broadcast on ABC each year from 1996 to 2008, but with ratings declining from 1.4, in 1996 and 1997, to 0.6 in 2008, the MLS Cup was moved to ESPN at the start of 2009.[11] The network also replaced the regular Thursday night telecast with a "game of the week" on either Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday nights, to give MLS matches better lead-in programming and more flexibility to air better matchups.[12]

In 2011, Fox Soccer Channel and MLS agreed to a one-year extension to televise up to 31 regular-season matches and three playoff game, in a deal worth around US$7 million.[13][14][15] MLS Wrap was a MLS highlight show that aired on Fox Soccer Channel that was often hosted by Sean Wheelock, with analyst John Harkes.[16]

In 2012, NBC Sports Group replaced Fox Sports as the league's second English-language broadcaster, with matches airing on NBCSN (which was available in approximately twice as many homes as Fox Soccer), and selected matches on the NBC broadcast network. NBCSN broadcast 44 matches and NBC broadcast 5 matches—the average combined audience for NBC and NBCSN's matches in 2012 was 122 percent higher than the average audience for Fox Soccer's matches in 2011.[17] ESPN ratings also increased in 2012 from the prior year, as a number of MLS matches were shown on ESPN in 2012, instead of a primary focus on ESPN2, as had been the case previously.[18]

2015–2022

[edit]

On May 12, 2014, MLS announced an eight-year broadcasting deal between ESPN and Fox Sports in English, and Univision in Spanish, covering television, digital, and the possibility of radio rights. The biggest change under the new deal was the establishment of a consistent national window for each broadcaster; UniMas airs matches on Friday nights, while ESPN2 and Fox Sports 1 air matches on Sunday evenings and nights respectively (jointly promoted as Soccer Sunday). All three broadcasters will air at least 34 regular-season matches per-season during these windows. ESPN and Fox Sports will also share in English-language coverage of the playoffs, and alternate airing the All-Star Game and MLS Cup yearly. Univision will air Spanish-language coverage of the MLS Cup and All-Star Game, and exclusively air two playoff knockout-round matches per season. Matches exclusively televised by Univision include English-language commentary via second audio program. The deal also includes options for national radio rights for ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio, rights to United States men's national team matches for all three broadcasters, rights for ESPN International, and an option for ESPN to take over the distribution of the league's out-of-market package.[19][20]

ESPN and Fox Sports pay a combined $75 million per season, and Univision pays $15 million per-season. In Canada TSN and TVA pay a combined $15m per season. Totaling at around $105 million per-season, nearly five times the value of the league's previous deal, it is the highest-valued television rights deal in MLS history.[21] Commissioner Garber stated at the announcement that the new contracts were "another strong indicator of the League's continued growth and the overall fan interest in our sport".[19][20]

In March 2017, it was announced that Facebook had reached a deal to stream English-language coverage of the nationally televised matches allotted to Univision. The streams would include interactive features, while MLS also announced that it would stream a news program known as Matchday Live on its Facebook page to complement the new deal.[22]

Prior to the 2018 season, ESPN invoked its option to take over the out-of-market streaming rights to Major League Soccer. The MLS Live service was discontinued, and out-of-market matches became an overall component of the new ESPN+ subscription streaming service that launched in April 2018 (with MLS Live temporarily made available for free prior to the service's official launch).[23][24] Twitter replaced Facebook as the English streaming rightsholder for Univision's matches under a three-year deal.[25]

The 2018 season also saw significant developments in regional broadcast rights, as Chicago Fire and newly established Los Angeles FC chose to sell their regional television rights exclusively to subscription streaming services (the aforementioned ESPN+, and YouTube TV, respectively), rather than a local broadcaster or regional sports network. Several teams (including Real Salt Lake and the Seattle Sounders FC) also reached in-market streaming deals alongside a flagship television broadcaster.[26] In 2019, D.C. United similarly signed with FloSports (replacing Sinclair Broadcast Group), however the partnership was met with criticism over the more-limited availability of the broadcasts, as well as promised supplemental coverage that never materialized. The team broke away from FloSports prior to the final game of the season,[27][28] and re-signed Sinclair for the 2020 season.[29] Also in 2020, Chicago Fire FC returned to regional linear television with a multi-year deal with WGN-TV, concurrent with the final year of its agreement with ESPN+.[30]

2023–2032

[edit]

MLS requested that its teams not negotiate regional television rights beyond the 2022 season, suggesting that the league was considering switching to a centralized model for its broadcast rights (more akin to the NFL and European club leagues).[31][32]

On June 14, 2022, MLS announced a 10-year broadcasting deal with Apple Inc. taking effect in the 2023 season, under which the company will hold the global over-the-top streaming rights to all MLS and Leagues Cup matches, and selected MLS Next and MLS Next Pro matches.[33] They will stream on a new subscription service called MLS Season Pass which will be offered exclusively through the Apple TV app.[34] Season Pass will be a separate offering from Apple's main streaming service Apple TV+, but a package of MLS and Leagues Cup matches will stream for Apple TV+ subscribers, and a subset of these matches (potentially over 40%)[35] will be available for free.[33] Season ticket holders for MLS teams will also receive free access to the service. The acquisition is Apple's second major foray into sports broadcast rights, after having acquired a package of Friday-night Major League Baseball games for Apple TV+ in 2022.[36][37]

Under the deal, MLS will assume the production of all match telecasts, teams will no longer be allowed to sell regional broadcast rights, and no match will be subject to blackouts. Commentary will be available in English and Spanish, as well as French for matches involving Canadian teams. The majority of matches will be played on Wednesday and Saturday nights, with scheduled kickoffs potentially occurring at 7:30 p.m. local time.[35] Although Apple will hold the rights to all MLS matches, the league stated that it was still exploring a linear television package.[36][37] Every match will be called on-site,[35] and it was reported that IMG will handle the production for all match telecasts.[38]

Fox Sports and Fox Deportes will air matches in English and Spanish, respectively, on linear U.S. TV: 34 matches in the regular season, eight in the postseason, and each MLS Cup until 2026.[39] ESPN and Univision will no longer be involved in the televising of MLS matches, with ESPN severing ties after being the primary partner for the league's entire history and Univision having done so in the 1990s and from 2007 to 2022. Univision, however, will televise select Leagues Cup matches, including exclusive linear coverage of the final.[40] Both ESPN and Univision are believed to have left negotiations due to conflicts over the Apple contract; in addition to both companies operating streaming platforms of their own (ESPN+ and Vix respectively), Jonathan Tannenwald of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that ESPN disagreed with Apple putting the games which would have been part of an ESPN sublicense deal outside of the MLS Season Pass paywall, while Josh Sim of SportsPro Media speculated that Univision disapproved of Apple presenting Spanish-language coverage of MLS games.[41][42][43]

Canadian television

[edit]
See also: MLS on TSN

Coverage of MLS expanded into Canada in 2007 with the addition of Toronto FC. From 2007 to 2010, CBC, Sportsnet, and later GolTV Canada (owned by team parent company Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment), broadcast Toronto FC matches nationwide, and GolTV carried broadcasts of selected regular-season matches not involving Toronto FC.

Bell Media has held national English-language rights to Major League Soccer in Canada since 2011, and reached a 5-year extension for English-language rights only beginning in the 2017 season. Matches primarily air on the TSN networks, and beginning in 2017, selected matches are simulcast on the terrestrial CTV network.[44] As of the 2017 season, TVA Sports holds the national French-language rights to Major League Soccer in Canada.[45]

As in the United States, the individual Canadian clubs have also negotiated separate broadcast deals for matches not aired under the Bell Media national contract (although there are no blackouts of these "regional" broadcasts outside of the team's territory). TSN and Sportsnet formerly split coverage of Toronto FC regional matches (their parent companies hold a joint majority stake in MLSE), TVA Sports airs Montreal Impact matches in a separate deal,[46] and TSN broadcasts the Vancouver Whitecaps in a separate deal.[47][48] In the 2017 season, Sportsnet discontinued its TFC coverage, and its matches moved exclusively to TSN.[44]

In the 2018 season, DAZN took over rights to out-of-market streaming of matches as part of its overall service, with live and on-demand coverage of all-U.S., matches, and on-demand streaming of matches featuring Canadian clubs 48 hours after their original broadcast.[49]

Canadian television rights were included in the global rights deal between MLS and Apple Inc. which will begin with the 2023 season. All games involving Canadian teams will feature French language commentary, in addition to commentary feeds in English and Spanish.[35] The league will simulcast some games on traditional linear television networks such as TSN and RDS.[34]

Current broadcasting contracts

[edit]
See also: List of current Major League Soccer broadcasters

Global

[edit]
Network Current contract Annual rights fee Regular season
games 		Playoff games Language Ref
MLS Season Pass 2023–2032 $250 million All matches All matches English, Spanish, French [33]

United States

[edit]
Network Current contract Annual rights fee Regular season
games 		Playoff games Language Ref
Fox/FS1 2023–2026 TBA 34[a] 8 English [50]
Fox Deportes 2023–2026 TBA 34 8 Spanish [50]

Canada

[edit]
Network Current contract Annual rights fee Regular season games Playoff games Language Ref
TSN 2023–2026 TBA ~68[b] 8 English [50][51]
RDS 2023–2026 TBA ~68[b] 8 French [50]
  1. ^ At least 15 matches on Fox and the remainder on FS1
  2. ^ a b TSN and RDS will average two matches per week including at least one match featuring a Canadian team

Ratings and viewers

[edit]

Regular season

[edit]
Year English language Spanish language
Channel Telecasts Viewers (Ratings) Channel Telecasts Viewers (Ratings)
2006[52] ESPN2 21 263,000 (0.2)
Fox Soccer
2007[52][53] ESPN2 25 289,000 (0.2) TeleFutura 24 282,000
Fox Soccer
2008[53][54] ESPN2 26 253,000 (0.2) TeleFutura 26 254,000
Fox Soccer* 30,000 (0.1)
2009[53][55] ESPN2 26 299,000 TeleFutura 24 229,000
Fox Soccer 34 53,000
2010[53][56] ESPN2 25 253,000 TeleFutura 23 211,000
Fox Soccer 31 53,000
2011[53][55] ESPN2 20 290,000 Galavisión 18 72,000
Fox Soccer 27 70,000 TeleFutura 12 233,000
2012[53][57] ESPN / ESPN2 20 311,000 Galavisión 20 57,000
NBCSN 40 125,000
2013[53][58] ESPN / ESPN2 20 220,000 (0.1) UniMás 23 223,000
NBCSN 37 112,000 (0.1)
2014[53][59] ESPN2 20 240,000 (0.2) UniMás 23 218,000
NBCSN 38 142,000 (0.1)
2015[53][60] ESPN (8) / ESPN2 (26) 34 245,000 UniMás/UDN 42 244,000
FS1 34 197,000
2016
[61][62][63][64][65] 		ESPN (29) / ESPN2 (5) 34 274,000 UniMás/UDN 34+ 245,000
Fox (5) / FS1 (29) 34 224,000
Fox 5 696,000
2017[66][64][65] ESPN(26) / ESPN2(3) 29 272,000 UniMás(18) / UDN (6) 24 265,000
Fox (7) / FS1 (27) 34 236,000
Fox 7 644,000
2018[67][68][69] ESPN(28) / ESPN2(3) 31 241,000 Univision(13) UniMás/UDN (12) 25 292,000
Fox (6) / FS1 (27) 33 296,000
Fox 6 988,000

Notes:

  • Although the viewing numbers on ESPN2 declined by 36,000 from 2007 to 2008, ESPN began simulcasting MLS matches on ESPN Deportes in 2008, attracting an average of 40,000 viewers.[52]
  • Fox Soccer began getting ratings in October 2008. The Fox Soccer numbers for 2008 represent only the last four matches of the season. Viewership numbers prior to October 2008 are unavailable.[52]
  • FOX OTA- (Over-The-Air) average viewing numbers includes the FOX Deportes Spanish language Simulcast average viewing number for the 2016–2017 seasons.[64]
  • In 2019 MLS averaged 277,000 viewers for the regular season across ESPN networks per ESPN Press Room Press Release.[70]
  • In 2020 COVID affected season MLS averaged 257,000 viewers across ESPN networks, viewership average for Fox Sports and Univision networks were unavailable for the 2020 season.[71]

MLS cable viewership average

[edit]
Season Avg. viewers Change Ref
2012 164,000 — [53][57]
2013 185,000 +13% [53][58]
2014 200,000 +8% [53][59]
2015 229,000 +15% [53][60]
2016 248,000 +8% [61][62][63][64][65]
2017 258,000 +4% [64][65][66]
2018 276,000 +6% [68][67][69]
2019 268,000 −3% [70][72][73]
2020 257,000 −4% [71]
2021 285,000 +11% [74][75]

Notes:

  • Cable viewership average includes MLS average Television Viewing Audience across the National Broadcast Networks in which matches air.
  • Numbers do not include streaming viewership.

MLS Cup Finals

[edit]
  • The MLS Cup Final has also been aired on Spanish-language networks TeleFutura in 2007 and 2008,[87][88] Galavision from 2009 to 2011,[89][90] TeleFutura / UniMás from 2012 to 2018, and Univision in 2019. The 2020 MLS Cup had 1.677 million viewers. Simulcast audiences were listed as FOX with 1.071 million viewers, UniMas with 459,000 and TUDN with 147,000 [91][92]

Single-game records

[edit]
Regular season
No. Viewers Date Network Matchup
1 1,894,000 November 25, 2021 FOX Portland Timbers vs. Colorado Rapids[93]
2 1,609,000 July 7, 2019 FOX Atlanta United vs New York Red Bulls[94]
3 1,558,000 July 15, 2018 FOX Atlanta United vs Seattle Sounders FC[95]
4 1,159,000 June 30, 2018 FOX Seattle Sounders FC vs Portland Timbers[96]
5 1,109,000 July 1, 2018 FOX Toronto FC vs New York Red Bulls[96]

Previous national broadcasting networks

[edit]

Previous regional broadcasting networks

[edit]
Team Network Team Network
Atlanta United FC Bally Sports South
Bally Sports Southeast 		CF Montréal TVA Sports
Austin FC KNVA
KXAN-TV
KBVO 		Nashville SC WZTV
WUXP
WNAB
Charlotte FC WAXN
WSOC[97] 		New England Revolution WSBK-TV
WBZ-TV[98]
Chicago Fire WGN Sports New York City FC YES Network
WPIX
Colorado Rapids Altitude New York Red Bulls MSG Network
Columbus Crew Bally Sports Ohio
Bally Sports Great Lakes 		Orlando City SC WRBW
D.C. United NBC Sports Washington Philadelphia Union WPHL-TV
WPVI-TV
NBC Sports Philadelphia
FC Cincinnati WSTR-TV Portland Timbers Root Sports Northwest
KPTV
KPDX
FC Dallas KTXA Real Salt Lake KMYU
Houston Dynamo AT&T SportsNet Southwest San Jose Earthquakes NBC Sports California
NBC Sports Bay Area
KSTS
Inter Miami CF WBFS
WFOR 		Seattle Sounders FC Root Sports Northwest
KCPQ
KZJO
Amazon Prime Video
Los Angeles FC KCOP Sporting Kansas City KMCI-TV
LA Galaxy Spectrum SportsNet Toronto FC TSN
Minnesota United FC Bally Sports North
WUCW 		Vancouver Whitecaps FC TSN
  • NOTE: Former regional broadcasters that are currently affiliated with FOX continue to air extremely limited MLS matches involving their local team through the FOX linear package.

MLS broadcasts

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "ESPN acquires rights to Major League Soccer". OurSports Central. August 6, 2006. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  2. ^ mlssoccer. "MLS on linear TV: FOX Sports, TelevisaUnivision, TSN & RDS reach multi-year deals | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  3. ^ "U.S. Pro League Moves Along By Signing a Television Deal". The New York Times. March 16, 1994. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  4. ^ "MLS:Telemundo Line-up". Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  5. ^ Network, Telemundo. "Telemundo Network Enters Into Exclusive Agreement With Major League Soccer". Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  6. ^ "Investor slots filled for last team". Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  7. ^ a b Tripp Mickle (March 24, 2008). "ESPN kicks up efforts to bolster MLS ratings". Sports Business Daily Global Journal. American City Business Journals. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  8. ^ "ESPN, MLS Reach Eight-Year TV Deal That Includes Rights Fees". SportsBusiness Daily. August 7, 2006. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  9. ^ "Univision Signs Eight-Year Agreement To Broadcast MLS Games". SportsBusiness Daily. September 26, 2006. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  10. ^ "A breakdown of TV viewership-worse than we thought". The Soccerist. January 8, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2013.
  11. ^ a b c Paulsen (November 24, 2010). "Record Low Rating For 2010 MLS Cup". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  12. ^ "ESPN booting MLS from its Thursday slot". SportsBusiness Journal. January 19, 2009. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  13. ^ "MLS extends TV deal with Fox Soccer Channel for one year". USA Today. February 18, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  14. ^ "MLS And FOX Soccer Channel Agree on One-Year Contract Extension". Goal.com. February 18, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  15. ^ "Fox Soccer Channel Finalizes Deal With MLS, Reportedly Worth $6.25 Million A Year". SBNation. February 18, 2011. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  16. ^ "Memo to Fox Soccer Channel: 5 Ways to Improve FSC", World Soccer Talk, November 25, 2007.
  17. ^ Jonathan Tannenwald (July 14, 2014). "Analyzing NBC's ratings in its first season of broadcasting Major League Soccer". Philadelphia Daily News.
  18. ^ SportsBusiness Journal (November 29, 2012). "TV ratings for MLS up across the board". Sporting News.com Soccer. Retrieved May 18, 2014. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  19. ^ a b "MLS, U.S. Soccer sign landmark TV and media rights partnerships with ESPN, FOX & Univision Deportes". MLSSoccer.com. Major League Soccer. May 13, 2014. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  20. ^ a b "MLS's big play". Sports Business Journal. May 12, 2014. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  21. ^ John McDuling (May 12, 2014). "Here's more evidence that Americans are growing fond of soccer". Quartz. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  22. ^ "Facebook signs deal with MLS, Univision to stream live soccer games". Ars Technica. March 10, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  23. ^ "How to watch out-of-market MLS matches in 2018". MLSSoccer.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  24. ^ "ESPN's Web Service Gains Exclusive Pro Soccer Rights". Bloomberg L.P. February 13, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  25. ^ Spangler, Todd (March 9, 2018). "Twitter Inks Three-Year MLS Content Deal, Including Live-Streaming Matches (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  26. ^ "MLS gambles on local digital play". Sports Business Journal. March 26, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  27. ^ Goff, Steven (October 3, 2019). "D.C. United severs ties with streaming partner FloSports". The Washington Post.
  28. ^ Allen, Scott (March 12, 2019). "FloSports offers full refunds after rough debut, vows to win back D.C. United fans' trust". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  29. ^ "DC United and Sinclair confirm 2020 local TV rights deal". SportsPro Media. February 24, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  30. ^ Jeremy Mikula (February 19, 2020). "Chicago Fire reach a multiyear deal with WGN to televise games". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing.
  31. ^ "MLS has told clubs not to sign local deals beyond 2022 in hopes of packaging with national rights". Awful Announcing. March 4, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  32. ^ Stejskal, Sam. "MLS media rights deal not likely to be a game-changer, sources say". The Athletic. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  33. ^ a b c "Apple and MLS to present all MLS matches for 10 years, beginning in 2023". Apple Newsroom (Canada). Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  34. ^ a b Rueter, Jeff (November 16, 2022). "MLS, Apple announce pricing, broadcast details for new partnership". The Athletic. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  35. ^ a b c d "MLS faces race against time to build broadcast operation ahead of Apple TV deal". The Athletic. October 27, 2022.
  36. ^ a b Axon, Samuel (June 14, 2022). "Bad news for cable: A major sports league will stream exclusively on Apple TV". Ars Technica. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  37. ^ a b mlssoccer. ""A historic day": MLS, Apple enter global media partnership beginning in 2023 | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  38. ^ Tenorio, Pablo Maurer, Sam Stejskal, Paul. "MLS notebook: Talent lineup for Apple TV deal; owners consider best-of-three in playoffs". The New York Times. Retrieved January 11, 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  39. ^ "Major League Soccer, FOX Sports, TelevisaUnivision, TSN & RDS Announce Multi-year Linear TV Rights Agreements | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. December 13, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  40. ^ "Univision out of MLS regular-season and playoff TV broadcasts amid new Apple deal". December 12, 2022.
  41. ^ "Univision acquires Leagues Cup rights but passes on MLS". World Soccer Talk. December 13, 2022.
  42. ^ Sim, Josh (December 13, 2022). "Fox agrees MLS TV deal but ESPN shuns rights". SportsPro. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  43. ^ Tannenwald, Jonathan (December 12, 2022). "Univision out of MLS regular-season and playoff TV broadcasts amid new Apple deal". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  44. ^ a b "Canadian national broadcast schedule for 2017 revealed; CTV to air 7 games". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  45. ^ "MLS reaches deals with TSN and TVA for Canadian television rights". ESPN FC. January 10, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  46. ^ Delia-Lavictoire, Yvan (July 14, 2011). "Impact sign multimedia deal, name TVA Sports broadcaster". MLSSoccer.com. Archived from the original on August 17, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  47. ^ "Every Game, All Season Long: MLS ON TSN Kicks Off its Complete Coverage of Vancouver Whitecaps FC This Saturday". Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  48. ^ "TSN to broadcast all Whitecaps FC games beginning in 2014". The Sports Network. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  49. ^ Armstrong, Laura (March 2, 2018). "MLS partners with DAZN to live stream U.S. matches for Canadian soccer fans". Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  50. ^ a b c d mlssoccer. "MLS on linear TV: FOX Sports, TelevisaUnivision, TSN & RDS reach multi-year deals | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  51. ^ Reedy, Joe (December 13, 2022). "MLS broadcast rights awarded to TSN, Fox Sports for next 4 years". CTVNews. The Associated Press. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  52. ^ a b c d Sports Business Daily, MLS attendance, TV viewership numbers slip, November 3, 2008,
  53. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "MLS 2016 TV Thread (Ratings, Historical Data, Contracts etc), July 8, 2016". Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  54. ^ Krishnaiyer, Kartik (November 9, 2008). "MLS TV Ratings Continue Decline". Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  55. ^ a b Sports Business Daily, MLS Regular-Season Audience Up Across ESPN/ESPN2, Fox Soccer, October 26, 2011
  56. ^ World Soccer Talk, "MLS 2010 Season Viewership Down 12% on ESPN2", October 31, 2010,
  57. ^ a b Sports Business Daily, "MLS Has Best Regular-Season Audience Yet on ESPN/ESPN2; NBCSN Off To Good Start", November 28, 2012,
  58. ^ a b Sports Business, Journal, "Attendance strong, but MLS sees TV dip", November 4, 2013,
  59. ^ a b "Big jump in MLS viewers on ESPN2 and NBCSN", Soccer America, November 3, 2014.
  60. ^ a b "MLS TV numbers increase on FOX Sports and ESPN for 2015 regular season – World Soccer Talk". October 27, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  61. ^ a b "TV ratings for MLS are up from last year on all ESPN platforms", July 27, 2016.
  62. ^ a b "MLS’s improved TV ratings on FOX and ESPN are welcome, but they’re only baby steps", July 28, 2016.
  63. ^ a b "FOX Sports’ MLS viewing numbers increased 37% in 2016 compared to last year", July 28, 2016.
  64. ^ a b c d e "Most-watched soccer games on US TV for September 19–24, 2017 – World Soccer Talk". World Soccer Talk. September 29, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  65. ^ a b c d "Better TV windows boost viewership for MLS". sportsbusinessdaily.com. November 20, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  66. ^ a b "MLS attendance, TV ratings up in 2017" Archived April 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Chicago Tribune, November 17, 2017.
  67. ^ a b "Most-watched soccer games on US TV for October 10-21, 2018 - World Soccer Talk". World Soccer Talk. October 25, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  68. ^ a b "The 2018 MLS TV Thread". BigSoccer Forum. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  69. ^ a b "MLS Regular-Season Viewership Up For Fox Sports, Down On ESPN". sportsbusinessdaily.com. November 8, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  70. ^ a b "Major League Soccer Audience on ABC and ESPN Networks Up 50 Percent in 2021 Compared to 2020 Regular Season". ESPN Press Room U.S. August 26, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  71. ^ a b "Major League Soccer Audience on ABC and ESPN Networks Up 50 Percent in 2021 Compared to 2020 Regular Season". ESPN Press Room U.S. August 26, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  72. ^ "The 2020 MLS TV thread". BigSoccer Forum. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  73. ^ "Average MLS regular season TV viewers in the U.S 2019". Statista. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  74. ^ Crupi, Anthony (November 16, 2021). "MLS Takes on NFL Thanksgiving in Quest for TV Deal as EPL Looms". Sportico.com. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  75. ^ Porter, Rick (November 30, 2021). "TV Ratings: CBS' Thanksgiving NFL Game Hits 28-Year High". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  76. ^ a b Tannenwald, Jonathan (November 8, 2022). "Philadelphia helped MLS Cup draw its biggest U.S. TV audience in 25 years". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  77. ^ "MLS Wrap: MLS Cup Earns Second-Lowest Rating; Regular Season Up", Sports Media Watch, December 7, 2012.
  78. ^ "MLS Cup Hits High in Primetime Broadcast Debut". December 14, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  79. ^ "Ratings Roundup: MLS Cup, Manchester Derby, Boxing". December 15, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  80. ^ Lind, Jason (December 9, 2018). "2018 MLS Cup broadcast scores historic audience ratings". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  81. ^ "Ratings: NFL overnights, MLS Cup, NBA". November 12, 2019. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  82. ^ Goff, Steve [@SoccerInsider] (December 15, 2020). "MLS Cup on UniMás delivered 459,000 viewers, +2% vs. 2019 on Univision and +137% vs. 2018 on UniMás.So overall, M…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  83. ^ "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Saturday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.12.2020". showbuzzdaily.com. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  84. ^ Goff, Steve [@SoccerInsider] (December 14, 2021). "This year's finals – MLS: 1.5m viewers (ABC, UniMas, TUDN), NWSL: 525,000 (CBS), USL Championship: 84,000 (ESPN)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  85. ^ "MLS Cup has second-best English/Spanish audience on record". Sports Business Journal. November 8, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  86. ^ Lewis, Jon (December 2023). "Weekly sports ratings: NFL, NBA, Army-Navy, MLS Cup and more". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  87. ^ Fallas, Bernardo (November 17, 2007). "MLS strives to find place on U.S. sports landscape". Houston Chronicle. p. 1. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  88. ^ "Angles abound for grand MLS Cup". Sports Illustrated. November 21, 2008. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  89. ^ Jones, Grahame L. (November 22, 2009). "David Beckham's injury could add twist to MLS final". Los Angeles Times. p. C3. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  90. ^ MLS Cup viewers on UniMas surpass those on ESPN - Soccer America, December 10, 2013
  91. ^ @SoccerInsider (December 15, 2020). "MLS Cup on UniMás delivered 459,000 viewers, +2% vs. 2019 on Univision and +137% vs. 2018 on UniMás. So overall, M…" (Tweet). Retrieved June 25, 2021 – via Twitter.
  92. ^ "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Saturday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.12.2020 | Showbuzz Daily". www.showbuzzdaily.com. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  93. ^ mlssoccer. "Colorado-Portland Thanksgiving game on FOX sets MLS playoff viewership record | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  94. ^ Werner, Collin (July 10, 2019). "Most-watched soccer games on US TV for June 24-July 7, 2019". World Soccer Talk. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  95. ^ "Fox's Atlanta United-Seattle Sounders broadcast right after the World Cup final drew 1.558 million viewers", Philadelphia Inquirer/Daily News Twitter, July 17, 2018.
  96. ^ a b "Most-watched soccer games on US TV for June 25-July 3, 2018 - World Soccer Talk". World Soccer Talk. July 7, 2018. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  97. ^ Bailey, Ryan (April 14, 2021). "WSOC-TV, TV64 & Telemundo Charlotte announce first-ever television partnership with Charlotte Football Club". Charlotte FC. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  98. ^ Rebelo, Tanner (April 8, 2021). "NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION SIGN NEW BROADCAST DEAL WITH CBS BOSTON". Trifecta Sports. Retrieved April 13, 2021.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ MLS Season Pass viewership is not available
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Major_League_Soccer_on_television&oldid=1240414674"