Viewership for the 2010 FIFA World Cup is up significantly on ESPN/ABC and Univision.
Through Sunday, the World Cup is averaging a 2.6 U.S. rating and 4.2 million viewers on ESPN and ABC, up 63% in ratings and 80% in viewership from the comparable point in 2006 (1.6, 2.3 mil).
ABC drew a 2.8 rating and 4.7 million viewers for Sunday’s Germany/Australia match, according to Nielsen fast-nationals, up 27% in ratings and 40% in viewership from Mexico/Iran on the first Sunday of the 2006 World Cup (2.2, 3.3 mil).
Also on Sunday, ESPN drew a 2.0 and 3.0 million for Serbia/Ghana.
Not surprisingly, Saturday’s USA/England match on ABC stands as the top telecast of the World Cup, with a 7.3 and 13.0 million viewers.
Over on Univision, the World Cup averaged 3.2 million viewers for the first two days, up 49% from 2006.
Saturday’s USA/England match drew 4.1 million viewers on Univision, the second-largest audience ever for a USA match on the network. USA/England is not the network’s top telecast of this year’s World Cup, however; the Mexico/South Africa opener drew 5.4 million viewers.
Viewership For 2010 FIFA World Cup Through Sunday
Asterisk (*) indicates two-day average (Fri-Sat)
| Date | Time | Match | ESPN/ ABC | Univision |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., 6/11/10 | 10:00 AM | South Africa/Mexico |
2,856
|
5,398
|
| 2:30 PM | Uruguay/France |
2,950
|
2,542
|
|
| Sat., 6/12/10 | 7:30 AM | South Korea/Greece |
1,997
|
962
|
| 9:20 AM | Argentina/Nigeria |
3,725
|
3,360
|
|
| 2:30 PM | United States/England |
12,956
|
4,110
|
|
| Sun., 6/13/10 | 7:30 PM | Algeria/Slovenia |
1,569
|
—
|
| 10:00 AM | Serbia/Ghana |
3,002
|
—
|
|
| 2:30 PM | Germany/Australia |
4,657
|
—
|
|
|
Average
|
4,247
|
3,162*
|
||
