Over five million viewers watched Friday morning’s USA/Slovenia World Cup match on ESPN.
The United States’ 2-2 draw with Slovenia drew a 3.4 U.S. rating and 5.2 million viewers on ESPN Friday morning, according to Nielsen fast-nationals. The match ranks as the third-most viewed soccer telecast ever on ESPN/ESPN2.
Only Germany/Italy in ’06 (5.85 mil) and United States/Germany in 02 (5.3 mil) drew more viewers.
During the 2006 World Cup, USA/Czech Republic drew 3.8 million viewers on ESPN2 and USA/Ghana drew 2.8 million on ESPN.
Friday’s match also ranks as the most-viewed soccer telecast ever on ESPN in households (3.9 mil).
San Diego led all markets with an 8.5 rating for the match, followed by Washington, D.C. (6.4), Miami (6.2), West Palm Beach (5.9) and San Francisco (5.7). Keep in mind that the match began at 7 AM local time in both San Diego and San Francisco.
Through Friday, ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC are averaging a 1.9 U.S. rating and 2.95 million viewers for coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, up 60% and 71%, respectively, from 2006 (1.2, 1.7 mil).
(ESPN)
