NBCSN’s live coverage of the 2014 MLS season opener between Seattle Sounders and Sporting Kansas City scored a ratings boost Saturday when the coverage netted a 283% increase over the 2013 season opener on NBCSN, based on overnight ratings.
Seattle-KC had an overnight rating of 0.23, which was 283% better than NBCSN’s season opener (0.06) for the Houston-DC United game on March 2, 2013. That game was shown from 8:15-10:30pm ET compared to Seattle-Kansas City, which was televised from 3-5:30pm ET.
The telecast of Seattle-KC was NBCSN’s second best MLS metered market rating ever (0.23). NBCSN’s previous record was 0.24 for New England-Philadelphia from July 29, 2012. That Revolution-Union game was preceded by coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games from London.
One major reason for the boost in ratings for Seattle-KC was that it was preceded by live coverage of Chelsea-Tottenham, which drew a 0.39 rating, up 34% from NBCSN’s Saturday 12:30pm ET window average to date (0.29). This was NBCSN’s second best metered market rating for that timeslot for the season-to-date. Liverpool-Southampton on March 1 (0.40) is the record overnight rating thus far.
The next MLS game scheduled on NBCSN is this Saturday between Seattle Sounders and Toronto. The game kicks off at 4:30pm ET.
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