Considering the circumstances, World Cup Final ratings held up quite well in the metered markets.
The France-Croatia FIFA World Cup Final earned an 8.3 overnight rating on FOX Sunday morning, down 14% from Germany-Argentina in 2014 (9.7) and down 3% from Spain-Netherlands in 2010 (8.6), both of which aired on ABC. Figures include pre-match coverage.
France’s win, which peaked at a 10.0, posted the lowest overnight for the World Cup Final since 2002 (Brazil-Germany: 4.1). Not coincidentally, it was the first final since 2002 to begin before Noon ET.
Overnights also trailed the two most recent Women’s World Cup finals, which featured the United States. The 2015 final, which also aired on FOX, had a 15.2 in primetime.
Given the 11 AM ET start, the presence of non-traditional finalist Croatia, and France’s comfortable margin of victory, FOX can be more-than-satisfied with a mere 3% drop from 2010 and 2006 (Italy-France: 8.6).
Figures for Telemundo’s Spanish-language coverage were not immediately available.
San Diego led all markets Sunday with a 13.8 rating, up 3% from 2014 — despite the match starting at 8 AM local time (the 2014 match began at 11:30 AM in the market). Washington D.C. ranked second with a 13.6 (-12%) and the Bay Area third with a 13.0 (flat).
Overnight Ratings For World Cup Final (1994-Present)
