They are not packaged anymore. That was a common refrain from a certain crowd but upon closer examination those 10 or so US games that averaged anywhere from 300-500k between ESPN and ESPN2 weren't the meat of the deal. It's the the inventory of almost 400 MLS matches that ESPN carries. Those televised games averaged 250-300k on ESPN, However notably and importantly as MLS TV deal with ESPN expires ratings have jumped this season. ESPN is avg. around 370k and the network average across ABC/ESPN networks is well over 400k. I will say the one good thing ESPN has recently done for MLS and this started this year was putting regular season games on ABC.
It would wouldn't hurt MLS if ESPN promoted it more but its not really needed, just make more of the damn games accessible on FOX/ABC. This year shows if network partners regularly make games more accessible to the general public, interest and viewership rises.
This was a league that up until a few yrs ago had a small handful 3 or so games available on OTA TV. As hockey fans we can all appreciate the need of having OTA games the 12-13 NBC gave us all those years.
Imagine not having OTA games for almost 20 yrs then getting 3 or so a season spread out on Fox zero on ABC since the late 90s to finally getting double digit 12 OTA games this year. That's were MLS was, so folks really need to remember that when they go at soccer fans for having enthusiasm, its because so much progress was artificially deflated for years due to zero big MLS broadcast network coverage. I will admit some do go overboard and I cringe at some proclamations "Bigger than NBA or MLB in 5 yrs etc"
Edit: The more lucrative World Cups Rights were never tied to the old SUM/USSF media rights deal. Some people used to think they were.