The 2014 World Cup continues to trend well ahead of 2010.
The ESPN family of networks averaged a 2.3 U.S. rating and 3.7 million viewers for the opening week of the FIFA World Cup, up 21% in ratings and 26% in viewership from the comparable point in 2010 (1.9, 3.0M). The network’s top match, unsurprisingly, was United States/Ghana on Monday (6.3, 11.1M).
Washington (DC) ranks as the top market for ESPN/ABC World Cup coverage with a 4.6 average rating. The Bay Area and New York are tied for second (3.9), while Hartford/New Haven and Los Angeles are tied for fourth (3.5).
The World Cup has also had a 45% increase in viewership on Univision, though the network did not release figures in a Friday press release. Univision has aired four of the five most-watched matches of the World Cup, with USA/Ghana on ESPN as the lone exception.
(Tournament averages from ESPN, Univision)
