NBC and NBCSN combined to average 438,000 viewers for EPL coverage during the '13-14 season, up 99% from last season, which was solely on cable TV (ESPN, ESPN2 and Fox Soccer). On a cable-only comparison, NBCSN averaged 395,000 viewers, an 80% increase over the ESPN, ESPN2 and Fox Soccer average. Fifteen games (five on NBCSN and 10 on NBC) averaged more than 750,000 viewers -- up from zero live games reaching that figure last year. Nine of the 10 most-watched EPL games ever on cable TV were viewed on NBCSN this season. Combined average viewership across the 10 networks of NBCU on Championship Sunday was 1.8 million viewers -- more than double the 869,000 viewers who watched on the final day in '11-12. The top three local markets for NBC/NBCSN coverage were DC, N.Y. and Baltimore (NBC). In L.A., Matt Wilhalme writes while more Americans tuned into EPL games this season on TV than ever before, the "most popular sport in the world still has a way to go before it receives promotion among U.S. sports" (L.A. TIMES, 5/14).
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MOST-WATCHED EPL MATCHES DURING '13-14 SEASON IN THE U.S.
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|
DATE
|
NET
|
MATCH |
VIEWERS (000)
|
|
2/8/14
|
NBC
|
Cardiff-Swansea City |
1,240
|
|
1/11/14
|
NBC
|
Swansea City-Manchester United |
1,100
|
|
2/22/14
|
NBC
|
Manchester United-Crystal Palace |
1,060
|
|
1/19/14
|
NBCSN
|
Manchester United-Chelsea |
1,020
|
|
11/2/13
|
NBC
|
Liverpool-Arsenal |
991
|
|
4/27/14
|
NBCSN
|
Chelsea-Liverpool |
940
|
|
9/14/13
|
NBC
|
Chelsea-Everton |
917
|
|
1/18/14
|
NBC
|
Aston Villa-Liverpool |
900
|
|
8/31/13
|
NBC
|
Sunderland-Crystal Palace |
865
|
|
9/22/13
|
NBCSN
|
Manchester United-Manchester City |
852
|
