Some good ratings news has been reported for the MLS, as Sunday’s split-national matches marked the highest television ratings in more than 10 years.
On Sunday, Fox aired did a split broadcast with two MLS matches–Toronto FC vs. the New York Red Bulls and LA Galaxy vs. Sporting KC. The broadcast drew a total of 1.298 million viewers, the highest rating any match in 12 years. Fox split the games to work around its NFL schedule, with the Toronto/New York match airing after early NFL games, and the LA/KC contest was featured in regions with late games.
Ultimately, those who tuned in saw two decent games. With the Galaxy trailing on the road, Landon Donovan delivered a game-tying goal that ultimately forced a 2-2 draw. Toronto FC, meanwhile, received two second half goals from Jozy Altidore, which forced a 3-3 draw after Toronto trailed on their own turf for much of the afternoon.
On the television side, this season has marked some notable ratings victories for the MLS. In perhaps the most prominent example, ESPN has already reported increased viewership across the board, including matches available on both television and live streaming.
