TV Report: Opening weekend MLS viewerships rise

The viewerships for MLS opening games on FS1 and ESPN were up 40 percent and 14 percent, respectively, as compared to the 2016 opening games on the networks, and Saturday's LA Galaxy-FC Dallas on Univision was the highest-viewed game ever on MLS's opening weekend on Spanish-language television.

The gross viewership (1,630,000) for the four MLS games on national television -- Portland-Minnesota United was played Friday night -- was the highest for opening weekend since 1,960,000 for the Freddy Adudebut with D.C. United in 2004).

The viewership for Atlanta United-New York Red Bulls (375,000) was the second highest ever for an MLS game FS1 behind the 2016 Orlando City-D.C. United (378,000 viewers).

2017 MLS National Television Audience (March 3-5)
AVG. NETWORK (GAME
509,000 Univision (LA Galaxy-FC Dallas)
411,000 ESPN (Orlando City-New York City FC)
375,000 FS1 (Atlanta United-NY Red Bulls)
213,000 FS1 (Portland-Minnesota)
66,000 Fox Deportes (Atlanta United-NY Red Bulls)
35,000 ESPN (Orlando City-New York City FC)
22,000 Fox Deportes (Portland-Minnesota)

2016 MLS National Television Audience (March 6)
AVG. NETWORK (GAME)
468,000 *UniMas (LA Galaxy-D.C. United)
362,000 ESPN (Portland-Columbus)
267,000 FS1 (Seattle-Sporting KC)
72,000 ESPN Deportes (Portland-Columbus)
24,000 Fox Deportes (Seattle-Sporting KC)
*Includes simulcast on UDN.

2 comments about "TV Report: Opening weekend MLS viewerships rise".
  1. Robert Reiley, March 8, 2017 at 3:31 p.m.

    What is the second Orlando-NYFC viewership number on ESPN for? Was that the number for ESPN Deportes?

  2. don Lamb, March 9, 2017 at 9:23 a.m.

    That's and impressive bump.

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