Orlando City proved itself to be a national draw as Orlando TV ratings show. The Lions’ national television games were among the most viewed this season.
As the MLS season comes to a close, Orlando City continues to establish itself as one of the MLS’s premiere teams and a national brand in soccer circles. Maybe it is the expansion nature of the team or the presence of an international superstar in Kaka, but there is no doubt the Lions have brought in viewers to MLS games every time they are on air.
Orlando City’s win over New York City FC on Friday night garnered 229,000 viewers nationally on UniMas.
The number is up by 30,000 viewers from UniMas’ MLS broadcast on October 2 between New York City FC and D.C. United (199,000) and up significantly from Orlando City’s last national game, which took place on September 13 against D.C United on Fox Sports 1 (91,000).
Orlando City-New York City FC viewers on Friday night are slightly down from the last national TV broadcast between the two teams which took place on July 26 in New York. The game which was broadcast on Sunday afternoon on Fox Sports 1 garnered 234,000 viewers.
Orlando City’s first ever MLS game back on March 8 in the Citrus Bowl garnered 539,000 viewers on ESPN2, which was the largest MLS audience for any game until the August 9 game between the Los Angeles Galaxy and Seattle Sounders brought in 549,000 viewers. That game was broadcast on ESPN which is in more homes then ESPN2.
The Orlando City-New York City FC on March 8 to date also remains the most watched Orlando City game locally as 97,328 viewers watched the game in Orlando. Orlando was the number one TV market nationally on ESPN2 for that game with a 3.4 rating which was much more higher than what New York brought in.
Orlando City has proven to be a good team to have on TV nationally.
Orlando City’s home game against D.C. United on June 14 garnered 378,000 viewers which is still the most viewed MLS game on Fox Sports 1.
The Orlando City road game at Houston on March 13 on UniMas garnered 310,000 viewers which is the third most watched MLS game on UniMas this season behind only San Jose-Los Angeles on August 28, which garnered 356,000 viewers, and Chicago-Los Angeles’ (MLS Opening Night) 341,000 viewers.
Orlando City was also part of the lowest viewed MLS Game this season against D.C.United back on September 13 with 91,000 viewers nationally on Fox Sports 1. But keep in mind Sept. 13 was the first Sunday the MLS and Orlando City went up head to head against the NFL. That would explain the dramatic decrease in viewers from that mid-summer game against D.C. United when it did not have the NFL as competition.
Below are the numbers Orlando City has drawn on ESPN2, FS1 and UniMas nationally this season.
1- New York City FC at Orlando City, March 8, 2015: 539,000 viewers (ESPN2)
2- D.C.United at Orlando City, June 14, 2015: 378,000 viewers (Fox Sports 1)
3- Orlando City at Seattle, August 17, 2015: 345,000 viewers (ESPN2)
4- Orlando City at Houston, March 13, 2015: 310,000 viewers (UniMas)
5- Orlando City at D.C. United, April 3, 2015: 269,000 viewers (UniMas)
6- Orlando City at San Jose, May 24, 2015: 244,000 viewers (Fox Sports 1)
7- Orlando City at New York FC, July 26, 2015: 234,000 viewers (Fox Sports 1)
8- New York City FC at Orlando City, October 16, 2015: 229,000 viewers (UniMas)
9- Orlando City at Portland, April 12, 2015: 226,000 viewers (ESPN2)
10- Toronto FC at Orlando City, April 26, 2015: 186,000 viewers (Fox Sports 1)
11- Los Angeles Galaxy at Orlando City, May 17, 2015: 172,000 viewers (ESPN2)
12- Sporting KC at Orlando City, September 13, 2015: 91,000 viewers (Fox Sports 1)
Total- Orlando City’s 12 national games are averaging 268,583 viewers
MLS National Games on ESPN2,Fox Sports 1, and UniMas averaging 225,000 viewers
ESPN 2 :
Orlando City Avg : 320,000 viewers
MLS Avg on ESPN2 : 221,000 viewers
Fox Sports 1 :
Orlando City Avg : 226,000 viewers
MLS Avg on FS1 : 217,000 viewers
UniMas :
Orlando City Avg : 269,333 viewers
MLS avg on UniMas : 242,000 viewers
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