TFC Got Smoked in the ratings

[ensco]

I guess this is no surprise, but it was so ugly that I thought I'd post it as a separate thread (as opposed to the daily news section) - I guess it's a pair to the closed thread on the Ultras story about trying to get this game on TV...

Sunday night we got only 20,000 (per the stupid Neilson ratings which systematically under-reports viewership by young men and coverage in bars, etc). This was against the NBA Finals (which got 280,000), a Cubs-Dodgers game that got 98,000 (this one stings) and the Germany-Poland rebroadcast (I'm not sure what they got, the Globe reports 227,000 but this is probably for the afternoon live broadcast).

It was a very competitive night, but, with hockey done....the trend has to be a bit disconcerting to MLSE.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl...eSportsSoccer/

[werewolf]

thats not good at all. Even worse when its a low-quality away broadcast. Have there been any TFC commercials during the Euro games on sportsnet? I didn't get a chance to watch fully the other day, but that would be a good time.

[Bobo]

thats not good at all. Even worse when its a low-quality away broadcast. Have there been any TFC commercials during the Euro games on sportsnet? I didn't get a chance to watch fully the other day, but that would be a good time.

NONE! It's been driving me nuts. Something about TFC or the CMNT...

[MG42]

20,000...ouch...maybe viewers realize TFC blows away from BMO...you have to admit it was really tough to make it trhough watching that game

[footyfan]

20,000...ouch...maybe viewers realize TFC blows away from BMO...you have to admit it was really tough to make it trhough watching that game

Or maybe it is a dose of reality that Toronto is like every other MLS market when it comes to "watching soccer on TV"?

But damn, 20,000 that blows, DC United typically gets 2-4 times that amount for broadcasts on CSN.

[trane]

Or maybe it is a dose of reality that Toronto is like every other MLS market when it comes to "watching soccer on TV"?

But damn, 20,000 that blows, DC United typically gets 2-4 times that amount for broadcasts on CSN.

Fuck of already. No Toronto is not like the rest of the MLS in any way shape or form. The Euro's are on and for the next month the majority of the fans attention will be on that. The problem is that the fucking Americans, play on a different scheduale then the rest of FIFA. The entire footy world is watching the Euro's why would Toronto be any different? Please stay of our fucking boards. Parky, can you please ban this guy.

[VoxPopuliCosmicum]

Fuck of already. No Toronto is not like the rest of the MLS in any way shape or form. The Euro's are on and for the next month the majority of the fans attention will be on that. The problem is that the fucking Americans, play on a different scheduale then the rest of FIFA. The entire footy world is watching the Euro's why would Toronto be any different? Please stay of our fucking boards. Parky, can you please ban this guy.

Kinda harsh, no? Yes, his posts are occasionally unrelated to TFC, but he(?) brings a different and mostly rational viewpoint. More than anything, he probably wishes he was one of us.

Despite the abuse he suffers, I've never seen him reciprocate.

[trane]

Kinda harsh, no? Yes, his posts are occasionally unrelated to TFC, but he(?) brings a different and mostly rational viewpoint. More than anything, he probably wishes he was one of us.

Despite the abuse he suffers, I've never seen him reciprocate.

It is harsh, but this is a TFC supporters , specifically RPB board, every comment he makes is about who DC is better then TFC, again what would he expect?

[Oldtimer]

Or maybe it is a dose of reality that Toronto is like every other MLS market when it comes to "watching soccer on TV"?

But damn, 20,000 that blows, DC United typically gets 2-4 times that amount for broadcasts on CSN.

TFC gets more like 80-100,000 when it's on a Saturday afternoon on CBC.

[brad]

TFC gets more like 80-100,000 when it's on a Saturday afternoon on CBC.

It will be interesting to see what the ratings are this Saturday with 2 Euro games happening in the day.

What I do know is that I have friends that normally watch TFC games that didn't tune in on Sunday because they'd had enough football with two Euro matches.

There are more actual matches to distract you during the course of the season, but right now there are two matches a day that most every serious football fan is going to watch.

[SilverSamurai]

Maybe it's the fact that the Score should be doing their own broadcasting (also NBA finals) lol

I found that CBC wanting to get their own sportsnetwork a good idea. Will help for the World Cup coverage.

[mighty_torontofc_2008]

Maybe it's the fact that the Score should be doing their own broadcasting (also NBA finals) lol

I found that CBC wanting to get their own sportsnetwork a good idea. Will help for the World Cup coverage.

nah, they will just more hockey on it then anything else, oh don't forget that other dim sport curling? TFC and MLSE need a TFC channel where
TFC and other MLS gmaes could be shown.

[Billy the kid]

Maybe if Montreal or Vancouver get a team, it will help with ratings on a nation wide basis. I'm not sure that outside of the GTA, there is very much interest.

[Ladies Love Julius James]

I know the NBA finals were on but 20k is just downright nasty.

[olegunnar]

It's hard to blame the channel it was shown on when those channels have far better ratings for other programming.

The Score's crappy picture quality, and obligated tickers doesn't seem to hurt its wrestling ratings.

[stugautz]

I think this is the best argument AGAINST expansion at BMO. As long as we're getting ratings like this, there won't be a need for it. And the MLSE execs know this as well. 20,000 sold out, or 22,000 in a 25,000 seat venue. Seems like the non-hardcore fans (you can use whatever words you want for them) don't care about watching the team on TV, only live games.

[olegunnar]

I think this is the best argument AGAINST expansion at BMO. As long as we're getting ratings like this, there won't be a need for it. And the MLSE execs know this as well. 20,000 sold out, or 22,000 in a 25,000 seat venue. Seems like the non-hardcore fans (you can use whatever words you want for them) don't care about watching the team on TV, only live games.

I'd argue the opposite. It's a good argument in favour of expansion.

To me the ratings show that TFC is like a private party. The people that have tickets are involved and are hooked. Those on the outside looking in have no connection to the team and no opportunity to create a connection.

It's a bait and switch...draw them in with the hype of the home games...and hope they become soccer fans.

Soccer fans watch road games. Party people only go to the live games.

[Ossington Mental Youth]

Id argue that most people were soccer'd out by that time in the evening, then again there are more games playing during the regular season so that might not be an excuse...

[Damien]

I'm always dissappointed with camera work and commentators on the score regardless of the feed.

[Barbarez]

LOL @ people blaming the picture on the score for the low ratings now...

Like gunner said, maybe the people on the outside just don't give a shit? Maybe it's just a 'thing to do' for the 15000 other people that come to the game? 20, 000...little mosque on the prarie used to get more viewers FFS

[Shaughno]

^^ Fact of the matter is, TFC and soccer in general still is a little fish in a big sports pond here. Top EPL/Champs League games don't even get 'high' viewer ratings.

[werewolf]

maybe this is why the game isn't shown at Boston Pizza

The team is still young in the city, hopefully it will grow. There are clearly enough soccer fans in the city, as proved by the Euro ratings.

[Barbarez]

maybe this is why the game isn't shown at Boston Pizza

The team is still young in the city, hopefully it will grow. There are clearly enough soccer fans in the city, as proved by the Euro ratings.

Or anywhere else in the Scarb area...

[Roogsy]

Honestly, if I didn't have my PVR recording ALL Major League Soccer game, I wouldn't even have known WHERE the game was.

I like the Score, at least the work that the footy podcast guys do. But in marketing? They truly do suck. I am surprised more than 5 people figured out where the game was. They did zero promotion for it. Do they expect people to turn on the TV Sunday night and hope something good is on The Score?

[brad]

Honestly, if I didn't have my PVR recording ALL Major League Soccer game, I wouldn't even have known WHERE the game was.

The answer lies here (for people like us who are actively looking for this info, not for the casual)

http://www.livesoccertv.com/

[Ladies Love Julius James]

The ratings havent been great on other stations as well. 60-80k is the norm and I think Sunday nights have to do plenty with only having 20k. People rather watch Simpsons, Family Guy,, NBA Finals, Sunday night baseball instead. Still nearly impossible to justify such a small number as 20k. Pathetic.

[Barbarez]

The ratings havent been great on other stations as well. 60-80k is the norm and I think Sunday nights have to do plenty with only having 20k. People rather watch Simpsons, Family Guy,, NBA Finals, Sunday night baseball instead. Still nearly impossible to justify such a small number as 20k. Pathetic.

Exactly. Why should rest. franchises and other locals air the game when TFC fans at home are not even tuning in...football is a big joke in North America.

[BeachRed]

...football is a big joke in North America.

That's funny, that's exactly what baseball owners said in 1970 when the NFL signed a deal with last-place ABC to air games on Monday night.

How's that working out?

[ilikemusic]

Considering the quality of the game, they should consider themselves lucky so few people tuned in.

[Parkdale]

It's a shame it's that low, but it will probably never beat out the NBA Finals in this country.