WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2009 MLS Cup to air on cable. The MLS Cup is just the latest in a litany of championship sporting events making the move from broadcast to cable.
The 2009 MLS Cup will air on ESPN, marking the first time ever the event has aired on cable. Previously, the game aired on ABC. The MLS Cup will take place on Sunday, November 22 at 8:30 PM ET, opposite Sunday Night Football on NBC.
The MLS Cup is in good company. Starting in 2010, the third and final rounds of the British Open will air on cable, and the BCS National Championship Game will move to cable starting in 2011. Additionally, Game 3 and a potential series-clinching Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals will air on Versus starting this season.
The move figures to only drive the ratings for the event even lower. Last year's MLS Cup drew a mere 0.6/1 final rating on ABC, tied as the lowest rating ever for the event.
Ratings for the MLS Cup. Year Date Time Game Net Rating 2008 Sun., 11/23/08 3:30 PM Crew/Red Bulls ABC 0.6/1 2007 Sun., 11/18/07 12:00 PM Dynamo/Revolution ABC 0.8/- 2006 Sun., 11/12/06 3:30 PM Revolution/Dynamo ABC 0.8/2 2005 Sun., 11/13/05 3:30 PM Galaxy/Revolution ABC 0.8/2 2004 Sun., 11/14/04 3:30 PM Wizards/United ABC 0.8/2 2003 Sun., 11/23/03 3:30 PM Fire/Earthquakes ABC 0.6/1 2002 Sun., 10/20/02 1:30 PM Revolution/Galaxy ABC 0.8/2
MLB Mets/Marlins 1:00 PM Sunday TBS 0.6 NBC's last regular season NHL telecast of the season drew the lowest overnight of the season. Red Wings/Blackhawks drew a mere 0.6
Versus sees higher numbers for Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are off to a good start on Versus.
Coverage of the first night of the Stanley Cup Playoffs averaged a 0.25 U.S. rating (0.38 cable rating) and 392,384 viewers on Versus Wednesday night, up 9% in ratings and 25% in viewership from a 0.23 (0.36 cable) and 314,368 viewers for comparable coverage in '08.
In particular, Game 1 between the Penguins and Flyers drew a 0.28 U.S. rating (0.42 cable) and 442,791 viewers, up 8% and 23% from a 0.26 (0.40 cable) and 359,628 viewers for last year's comparable Senators/Penguins tilt.
The second game of Versus' doubleheader, Blues/Canucks, drew a 0.22 (0.34 cable) and 344,295 viewers, up 10% and 31% from a 0.20 (0.31 cable) and 263,192 viewers for Flames/Sharks in '08.
Wednesday's World Cup Qualifying Match between USA and Mexico was not just a hit on Univision. ESPN2 drew a 0.8 cable rating and 1.2 million viewers for USA/Mexico Wednesday night, making the match the "the most-watched FIFA World Cup qualifier on ESPN2."
The 1.2 million viewers pales in comparison to the 5.9 million who watched the match on Univision at the same time. Keep in mind that Univision is a broadcast network, while ESPN2 is cable.
Overall, USA/Mexico averaged just over 7 million viewers on ESPN2 and Univision, more than any game of last year's Stanley Cup Finals, higher than the 6.1 million viewers for last Sunday's Lakers/Cavaliers game on ABC, and slightly below the 7.5 million for last year's NLCS on FOX.