According to trusted source Nielsen, TV viewership of English-language coverage of the MLS on ESPN enjoyed a two percent boost. On ESPN and ESPN2, there were 5,000 more viewers on average than in 2018 (241,000), every matchday. The 2019 audience count (246,000) is gradually hitting the 250,000 viewers mark.
A whooping 25 matches out of the 31-game TV schedule managed to surpass the 250,000 mark on ESPN. Whilst the statistic was at 248,000 viewers in 2018, it reached 266,000 viewers this year. The remaining six fixtures aired on ESPN2 averaged 164,000 viewers each.
The three most watched MLS matches on ESPN attracted a combined 1,231,000 viewers with ESPN’s coverage of Seattle Sounders FC vs Atlanta FC on July 14 racking up over 37 percent with its 462,000 viewers. DC United vs Atlanta (401,000) and LAFC vs Sporting Kansas City (368,000) -- both telecast on March 3 -- were the second and third most viewed Major League Soccer matches on ESPN this year.
