<div><figure class="image"></figure></div>
<p>We love watching the Premier League games on NBC Sports. That’s no secret. So, we were inquisitive when <a href="https:\/\/nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2022/01/05/nbc-sports-premier-league-coverage-on-usa-network-on-new-years-weekend-scores-27-increase-over-last-years-cable-coverage/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">NBC Sports PR sent out a press release</a> this week. It screams how USA Network is a success in its opening weekend of Premier League games. We decided to take a closer look to see what the numbers tell us.</p>
<p>The headline is that the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2021/11/02/premier-league-games-move-to-usa-after-nbcsn-shuts-down-dec-31/">Premier League on USA</a> had a 27% increase. That’s compared to the New Year’s Day weekend on NBCSN last year.  </p>
<p>In fact, the five Saturday-Sunday matches on USA Network averaged a Total Audience Delivery of 570,000 viewers. During the  comparable weekend last year, NBCSN averaged 449,000 over four games. </p>
<p>Which four games were they in 2021?</p>
<p>•&nbsp;Spurs vs. Leeds<br>
•&nbsp;Crystal Palace vs. Sheffield United<br>
•&nbsp;Newcastle vs. Leicester<br>
•&nbsp;Chelsea vs. Manchester City</p>
<p>This 2022 year was certainly different. First, the comparable games featured heavyweights Chelsea-Liverpool and Manchester City-Arsenal. Second, the other games were Watford-Spurs, Crystal Palace-West Ham and Everton-Brighton.</p>
<p>So, no doubt, the 2022 fixtures were far more attractive and featured bigger fanbases. Crystal Palace against Sheffield United, in particular, would not have been a ratings extravaganza. </p>
<p>For the 2022 games, USA Network delivered the highest average cable viewership for a “Festive Fixtures” weekend since Boxing Day in 2015 (12/26/15).</p>
<p>Sunday’s Chelsea-Liverpool on USA Network averaged a TAD of 1.04 million viewers to rank as third-most watched Premier League match ever on cable. Saturday’s Manchester City-Arsenal game averaged a TAD of 476,000 viewers. That match marking the most-watched game to kick off before 8 a.m. ET since Oct. 20, 2018 (Chelsea-Manchester United).</p>
<p>In conclusion, the USA Network numbers show promise but we would like to see continued improvement before calling it a ratings success. After all, USA Network is in far more homes than NBCSN (90 million compared to 79 million).</p>
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Premier League on USA Network TV ratings start well - World Soccer Talk

Premier League on USA Network TV ratings start well

<figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-359271" src="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/nbc-premier-league-coverage.jpeg" alt="" width="1200" height="599" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/11/16090940/nbc-premier-league-coverage.jpeg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/11/16090940/nbc-premier-league-coverage-300x150.jpeg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/11/16090940/nbc-premier-league-coverage-600x300.jpeg 600w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/11/16090940/nbc-premier-league-coverage-150x75.jpeg 150w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2021/11/16090940/nbc-premier-league-coverage-768x383.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure>
<p>England’s top-flight league recently announced a new <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2021/11/18/nbc-wins-premier-league-rights-through-2027-28/">6-year rights deal with NBC Sports</a> to extend NBC’s Premier League coverage in the United States. Once the new $2.7 billion deal ends in 2028, it’ll equal a grand total of 15 years of continuous coverage.</p>
<p>NBC Sports’ aggressive promotion of the league and use of linear platforms has brought English soccer closer to the American public. It has created a new generation of viewers and has given existing fans even more live action and shoulder programming.</p>
<p>We take a look back at years one through nine to see how NBC’s coverage has done.</p>
<h3>NBC’s Premier League coverage: 2013/14 to 2015/16</h3>
<p>Beginning in the summer of 2013 on an initial three-year deal, NBC Sports elevated the profile of the Premier League in the US. Fans were brought closer to the league than ever before in the US. For example, the broadcaster aired several introductory programs to the league before kicking off action.</p>
<p>The Premier League rights acquisition also gave NBCSN weekend and midweek programming that it previously lacked. This made the channel more attractive to both cable providers and viewers.</p>
<p>In an effort to create buzz for the Premier League, NBC Sports ran skits of the Ted Lasso character. The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KeG_i8CWE8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">commercials featuring Jason Sudeikis</a> helped stimulate conversation about the Premier League. Plus, it served as the pretense for a fictional TV show about an English soccer club. The promotional videos evolved into the TV series. One that won countless awards and acclaim. That helped further establish soccer as a mainstream American presence.</p>
<p>Presenter <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/category/rebecca-lowe/">Rebecca Lowe</a> and lead commentator <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/podcasts/world-soccer-talk-radio-5-14-15-arlo-white/">Arlo White</a> have been two mainstays, among many, on the network. Both Lowe and White developed tremendous fan followings.</p>
<p>In the first few seasons of NBC Sports’ coverage, they supplemented match coverage with programs. For example, there was an American version of <em>Match of the Day</em>. Next, there was <em>Premier League Download</em>. Even <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/01/19/gary-lineker-and-lee-dixon-feature-in-studio-today-for-nbcsns-chelsea-manchester-united-coverage/">Gary Lineker joined NBC Sports</a> to provide on-site analysis. Plus he provided documentaries via his production studio, Goalhanger films.</p>
<h3>Behind the scenes at NBC Sports</h3>
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="NBC&apos;s Premier League TV Coverage - Behind The Scenes With Rebecca Lowe, Kyle Martino &amp; The 2 Robbies" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-La4imXf63c?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
<p>The documentaries and bumper programming enhanced NBC’s coverage. It bolstered American fans’ understanding of the league, history and culture. These programs gave NBC and NBCSN a programming block for most match days that covered eight to ten hours. NBC Sports aired over 30 matches each season on free-to-air NBC network television. At the time, that was a breakthrough for soccer broadcasting and visibility in the United States.</p>
<p>When <em>Men in Blazers</em> moved from ESPN to NBCSN in 2014, the show helped engage casual fans. It emphasized offbeat and humorous takes on the Premier League. <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2015/01/06/men-in-blazers-tv-show-is-a-ratings-rollercoaster-on-nbcsn/">Panned by critics</a>, the show had a major, positive impact on the growth of the sport in the United States.</p>
<h3>Premier League on NBC: 2016/17 to 2021/22</h3>
<p>When NBC Sports renewed its contract with the Premier League in 2015 for more seasons, expectations were high. Many of us hoped the coverage would continue to elevate discussion and attract new fans.</p>
<p>A high point for NBC Sports were their fan festivals. Held in outdoor venues in major American cities, they <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2019/03/29/nbcs-premier-league-fan-fest-forging-deeper-connections-soccer-fans-usa/">helped connect the Premier League with fans</a> at the local level in the US. Not only were the fan fests a big hit. They also gave many American fans a sense of ownership over a league played an ocean away.</p>
<p>Spanish-language broadcasts were handled by NBCUniversal-owned channels Telemundo and Universo. Featuring the legendary <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2020/02/12/andres-cantor-interview-adapting-to-var-and-calling-premier-league-games/">Andres Cantor</a>, the broadcasts have incremental growth in viewership.</p>
<h3>From Live Extra to Gold and Peacock</h3>
<p>Throughout the period from 2015-2018, NBC’s coverage remained consistent. However, beginning in the summer of 2017, select matches were put behind a paywall on a service called NBC Sports Gold. The response was <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2017/06/27/premier-league-pass-marks-giant-step-backward-nbcs-coverage-epl/">less than positive</a>.</p>
<p>NBC Sports Gold’s introduction soured the relationship the network had with US-based fans. But the service proved a harbinger of what was to come. Not only for NBC, but for soccer fans in the US in general. The late 2010’s and early 2020’s have been marked by a clear shift. Many games have <a href="https://frontofficesports.com/a-changing-landscape-soccer-broadcast-in-the-digital-age/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shifted from linear TV to OTT paid services</a>.</p>
<p>In the summer of 2020, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2020/07/09/nbc-moves-premier-league-games-from-gold-to-peacock-for-2020-21-season/">NBC retired the Gold platform</a> replacing it with <a href="https://imp.i305175.net/c/330866/828265/11640?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.peacocktv.com%2Fsports%2Fpremier-league" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Peacock</a>. Currently, the streaming services airs between 40-50% of all Premier League matches in a season.</p>
<p>While <a href="https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/nbc-deserves-criticism-for-bumping-live-matches-to-peacock-but-so-does-the-premier-league.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticisms were aplenty</a>, it is important to put things into perspective. NBC still made more matches available on TV than other rights-holders did for their respective soccer properties.</p>
<p>In 2018, NBCUniversal’s parent company <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/22/sky-comcast-fox-36-billion-takeover-auction.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Comcast acquired Sky</a> in the UK. This brought synergies between Sky Sports’ and NBC Sports’ coverage of the Premier League.</p>
<p>NBC’s coverage also took on other elements in the 2018-2021 time period. Overall, NBC’s coverage slumped. Fewer bumper programs were aired, documentaries were fewer and far between while the network also lost talent. Restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic also had a negative impact on coverage. Thankfully, the 2021-22 season saw NBC Sports bounce back with a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2021/08/09/nbc-reveals-details-of-its-final-season-of-premier-league-coverage-under-current-tv-deal/">stronger presence in its final season</a>.</p>
<h3>NBC’s lasting legacy</h3>
<p>Certainly, NBC Sports’ coverage of the Premier League has raised the coverage of the sport in this country. The broadcaster can be criticized for focusing too much on The Big 6. But despite that, its soccer coverage has left a legacy. We now have a more visible and popular league in the United States. Combine that with smarter wraparound coverage than we had every experienced before. NBC Sports should be congratulated for renewing the Premier League rights. It has left us with nine years of memorable coverage. Hopefully the next six years can be even better.</p>
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NBC’s Premier League coverage after 9 years, a look back

NBC's Premier League coverage raised the bar in the United States, but now that NBC has renewed its Premier League rights, what's next?

NBC's Premier League coverage after 9 years, a look back - World Soccer Talk

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Premier League on USA Network TV ratings start well

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NBC’s Premier League coverage after 9 years, a look back