UDN Continues to be the Fastest-Growing National Sports Network in Primetime
NEW YORK – DECEMBER 14, 2017 – Univision Deportes, the multimedia sports division of Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) that also includes UDN (Univision Deportes Network), the No. 1 Spanish-language sports network, will finish 2017 as the leading sports brand delivering the most soccer viewing in the country throughout 2017. This past year, Univision Deportes earned the highest share of soccer viewing in the U.S. among 29 networks broadcasting live soccer, claiming over 40% of all viewing across the networks of Univision. Moreover, Univision Deportes led the industry by broadcasting 19 out of 20 top-rated club soccer matches in 2017, regardless of language.
“Univision Deportes’ portfolio expanded in 2017, further cementing our reputation among fanáticos as the home of soccer, and propelling UDN into another year of viewership success,” said Juan Carlos Rodriguez, president of Univision Deportes. “Our commitment to deliver the best-in-class sports content for our audience is stronger than ever, and thanks to our team’s dedication we continue to be the No. 1 destination for futboleros across the country.”
Having celebrated its fifth anniversary in April 2017, UDN continues to be the fastest-growing sports network in primetime, averaging 110,000 Adults 18-49. Additionally, UDN has the highest composition of millennial viewers among the major sports networks, +49% higher than the ESPN Networks. In July 2017, UDN finished as the No. 2 sports network, ahead of ESPN 2 and NBCSN.
Adding to Univision Deportes’ wins in 2017 is Liga MX, the most-watched league in the country, regardless of language.
- Liga MX averaged 210,000 Adults 18-49 on UDN in 2017, +42% percent better than NHL on NBCSN and +35% percent better than NBA on NBA-TV among Adults 18-49.
- Live broadcast of the Liga MX Apertura 2017 Final on Univision simulcast on UDN delivered a combined 4.9 million Total Viewers 2+. The first leg between Monterrey versus Tigres UANL delivered 2.3 million Total Viewers 2+ and 1.3 million Adults 18-49. Leg two delivered 2.6 million Total Viewers 2+ and 1.5 million Adults 18-48, making it the most-viewed soccer match of the now-completed Liga MX Apertura 2017 season.
- The highest-rated regular season club soccer match of the year was the Guadalajara versus Tigres UANL Liga MX Clausura Final on Univision, averaging more than 2.7 million Total Viewers 2+, which was +137% percent higher than the most-viewed English Premier League match of the year on NBC Networks.
ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
MLS
For the season, MLS on UniMás and UDN averaged 288,000 Total Viewers 2+ and 148,000 Adults 18-49. UniMas was up +13% and +6% with Total Viewers 2+ and Adults 18-49, respectively, from the 2016 season on the same network. In a rematch of 2016’s championship game, the 2017 MLS Cup between Toronto FC and Seattle Sounders FC on UniMás and UDN delivered 304,000 Total Viewers 2+ and 165,000 Adults 18-49.
CONCACAF Gold Cup
This past summer’s highly-anticipated 14th edition of the CONCACAF Gold Cup solidified Univision Deportes’ position as the home of soccer. Throughout 25 matches across 12 teams, broadcast of the competition reached over 29 million Total Viewers 2+ and 13 million Adults 18-49. Univision Deportes’ coverage garnered more than three-times the audience versus FOX’s broadcast of the tournament. Taking place in July, the tournament outperformed the Spanish-language broadcast of the FIFA Confederations Cup by +23% with Total Viewers 2+ and +26% with Adults 18-49. Across the networks of Univision, Gold Cup averaged 1.4 million Total Viewers 2+ and 766,000 Adults 18-49.
Mexican National Team
For the 8th consecutive year, the Mexican National Team is the most-watched national soccer team in the U.S., regardless of language. The Mexico versus USA World Cup qualifier in June was the most-watched MNT match, averaging 4.2 million Total Viewers 2+ and 2.3 million Adults 18-49. MNT qualifiers on UCI were up +19% and +9% with Total Viewers 2+ and Adults 18-49, respectively, compared to all MNT qualifiers on UCI in 2016.
Bundesliga
This past November, Univision Deportes announced its finalization of a three-year sublicensing deal with FOX Deportes for Spanish-language rights to matches from Germany’s top soccer league, Bundesliga. The top-rated Bundesliga match of the current season on any network, regardless of language, aired on UniMás in October. The Hertha Berlin versus FC Bayern Munich match averaged 171,000 Total Viewers 2+ and 96,000 Adults 18-49.
In 2018, Univision Deportes will continue to be the home of soccer in America and will bring fans the best soccer in the world, by adding the two top club soccer competitions from Europe, the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, as well as the best top European national team action with the inaugural UEFA Nations League.
Source: Nielsen, NPM, L+SD data.
Visit corporate.univision.com/newco for more information on UCI, and follow @UCIPRTeam on Twitter and Instagram.
CONTACT:
Mercedes Diez
212.455.5259
mdiez@univision.net
