MLS audience up 50% on ABC, ESPN
August 27, 2021
The 2021 Major League Soccer season (MLS) on ABC and ESPN networks in the US has delivered an average audience of 384,000 viewers through 18 matches, a 50 per cent increase compared to the 2020 regular-season average (257,000).
Compared to the 2019 regular-season average (277,000 viewers), the audience of 384,000 average viewers for MLS on ABC and ESPN networks represents a 39 percent increase in viewership through 18 matches in 2021.
Highlights:
- With 358,000 average viewers season to date, ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 combined are currently on track to deliver Major League Soccer’s most-watched season since 2000 (378,000 viewers across the same three English-language networks)
- The five ABC matches this season – the most MLS matches on the broadcast network since 1998 – delivered an average audience of 507,000 viewers. Last year, three ABC matches averaged 318,000 viewers.