Update: The game averaged 1.411 million viewers on Fox, up 111% versus last year’s 668,000 and the most since 2001. Viewership peaked on Fox with 2.159 million during the penalty kicks.
Additionally the match averaged 601,000 viewers across UniMás and Unvision Deportes making it the 2nd most-watched MLS final on Univision Deportes, up 19% versus last year in viewership and 24% with adults 18-49.
In Canada the match averaged 1.43 million on TSN and 92,000 on RDS for combined U.S. & Canada viewership of 3.543 million.
Original post:
Per Sports Business Journal’s Austin Karp, The Toronto FC versus Seattle Sounders MLS Cup averaged a 1.0 overnight rating (percentage of households tuned into the game on average in the largest 56 markets in the United States.) That ties the best overnight rating since 2001 — 2002, 2005 and 2007 also had 1.0 overnight ratings.
That’s up 150% versus last year but as Karp notes both the move to a broadcast network and Saturday night slot helped. Last year the MLS Cup final was on ESPN on a Sunday afternoon opposite NFL coverage.
The game drew a 9.9 local rating in Seattle. Canada isn’t measured in U.S. Nielsen numbers but look for @TSN_PR to tweet out viewership for TSN sometime over the next few days. Numbers for UniMás should be available no later than Tuesday.
In preliminary non-time zone adjusted numbers, the match averaged 1.284 million viewers from 8-11p on Fox (these numbers don’t properly count the Pacific Time Zone so expect adjustments in final numbers that will be released no later than Tuesday. It’s possible Fox will order expedited reporting and release time zone adjusted numbers sooner. Keep an eye on @FoxSportsPR.