By Ben Nicholson
December 14 – The 2015 MLS season came to an end last week with the MLS Cup final between Portland Timbers and Columbus Crew. And while the league’s lofty ambitions have been creating international stir in recent months, the cup final failed to generate much of a domestic stir, according TV viewership figures.
All three broadcasting channels saw a decline in viewers as compared to the 2014 MLS Cup final.
· 668,000 people tuned in on ESPN, down 31% on the 964,000 in 2014.
· 300,000 people tuned in on UniMas, down 56% on the 678,000 in 2014.
· 206,000 people tuned in on Univisión, down 16% on the 245,000 in 2014.
In total, 1,174,000 people tuned in, down 38% on the 1,887,000 in 2014.
32,000 people watched the game through ESPN’s online platform, but that falls short of closing the 300,000-person gap.
Since 2002, only one other MLS Cup final has suffered worse figures for an English-language network: in 2013 when 505,000 people tuned in to watch Sporting Kansas City beat Real Salt Lake on ESPN.
An explanation for the decrease in viewership is perhaps the smaller TV markets of the finalists in comparison to 2014, where LA Galaxy played against New England Revolution.
Additionally, big names such as Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan were playing in the 2014 final, whereas neither Portland nor Columbus house quite the same player name recognition, though the likes of Kei Kamara and Federico Higuain possess similar quality.
Other contending excuses is the fact that the final was competing for eyeballs against college American football and the NFL, who are tough opponents in the US marketplace.
Overall for the 2015 season, however, TV viewership figures are broadly strong. FOX Sports experienced a 38% average increase of viewers per game over NBCSN’s 2014 figures.
On average, 244,970 people tuned in to watch games televised by ESPN, which is a 4% increase from the 2014 season, and 196,545 people tuned in to watch games televised by FOX Sports. Spanish-language broadcaster UniMas averages were up 3%, amounting to 224,000 viewers per game.
It is worth noting that the top three highest viewed games on both networks did not involve Columbus Crew, and only one involved Portland Timbers.
FOX’s top three:
1. Orlando City SC v. DC United: 378,000 (June 14)
2. Seattle Sounders v. Portland Timbers: 371,000 (June 28)
3. NY Red Bulls v. NYC FC: 315,000 (August 9)
ESPN’s top three:
1. LA Galaxy v. Seattle Sounders: 549,000 (August 9)
2. Orlando City SC v. NYC FC: 539,000 (March 8)
3. LA Galaxy v. NYC FC: 452,000 (August 29)
Though the MLS Cup final figures are disappointing, the overall TV viewership trend is upwards. In addition to domestic growth, the league has been working hard to create an international presence. Next season MLS games will be broadcast in around 120 countries, after recently securing broadcasting deals in Africa and South America.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734917200labto1734917200ofdlr1734917200owedi1734917200sni@n1734917200osloh1734917200cin.n1734917200eb1734917200