MLS TV viewing figures are in for opening weekend of games

The TV viewing figures for the opening weekend of the 2015 MLS season are in. While they’re not earth shattering, the numbers were positive for ESPN and UniMas but disappointing for FOX Sports.

An average viewing audience of 539,000 watched Orlando City against New York City on ESPN2 (from 4:30-7:15pm ET). For a game featuring two brand-new MLS teams, the numbers are impressive.

On FOX Sports, an average viewing audience of 506,000 people watched the nil-nil draw between Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers on Sunday lunchtime (11:55pm-2pm ET). Disappointingly, only 268,000 tuned in on the same FOX Sports 1 channel to watch Sporting Kansas City against New York Red Bulls (7-9:30pm ET), and 289,000 watched Seattle Sounders against New England Revolution (9:30-11:30pm ET).

Friday night’s Spanish-language broadcast of LA Galaxy vs Chicago Fire on UniMas on Friday night (from 10pm-12:30am ET) was viewed by 341,000 people.

Judging by the initial numbers, it may take time for viewers to warm up to FOX Sports broadcasting MLS. We’ll find out this Sunday whether that’s true or not when they broadcast Portland against LA Galaxy at 7pm ET. ESPN2 meanwhile will show New York City FC against New England Revolution at 5pm ET, while Friday night’s game on UniMas is Houston Dynamo versus Orlando City FC (7pm ET).

SEE ALSO —

• Highs and lows of MLS opening weekend TV coverage

• MLS attendances for gameweek 1 compared to 2014