We’re nearly halfway through the inaugural USFL season, and the ratings have been steady and even seen a slight increase the last couple weekends. Fans seem to agree that the action on the field is good and the broadcasting elements are professional. It’s hard to believe that going into this year, there was still a lot to learn about the new USFL.
Earlier today FOX held their Q3 earnings call, where CEO Lachlan Murdoch touched on a lot of topics. One of which was the new USFL.
“That compares favorably to well-established spring sports properties like the NHL, F1, the EPL and MLS, all properties which either recently earned sizable rights increases or expected to do so soon. We are clearly establishing that @USFL belongs in this competitive set” (2/2)
— Edward Hartman (@EJHartmanCA) May 10, 2022
USFL Exec Edward Hartman shared a quote from the call that seems to spotlight Murdoch’s feelings on the new league so far.
Through its first three weeks, nearly 20M people watched the USFL on TV and games on FOX and NBC are averaging 1.5M viewers
That compares favorably to well-established spring sports properties like the NHL, F1, the EPL and MLS, all properties which either recently earned sizable rights increases or expected to do so soon. We are clearly establishing that USFL belongs in this competitive set.
This is great news for the future of the new USFL. If the boss is happy with the kind of numbers the league is pulling in, then everything should be a go for seasons two, three and beyond.
Many were surprised when the USFL announced they had signed a broadcasting rights deal with NBC, as they’re one of FOX’s main competitors. But, when you look at the ratings and how they’re holding up against well established sports organizations, it’s easy to see why. Plus, this is only good news for FOX when it comes time to renegotiate the deal.
Have you been enjoying the USFL season so far? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments below or join the conversation on Discord.
