NEW YORK (June 24, 2002) - Ratings and advertising sales for Soccer
United Marketing's (SUM) World Cup broadcasts on ESPN and ESPN2 have
continued following the quarterfinal surge of the U.S. National Team,
revealing a strong domestic following of the unprecedented American results
in Korea/Japan.
Television ratings provided by Nielsen Media Research indicate that interest
in live World Cup broadcasts on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC is growing dramatically
despite the 13+ hour time difference between the United States and
Korea/Japan, the site of this year's World Cup
ESPN's Friday morning telecast of the U.S. vs. Germany quarterfinal match on
June 21 at 7:30 a.m. ET, seen in an average of 3.77 million television homes
based on a 4.36 rating, is the network's most-watched and highest-rated
soccer telecast ever, according to Nielsen Media Research data. Also, the
telecast is ESPN's most-viewed program ever in the second quarter of a year
(April - June).
The quarterfinal game, a thrilling 1-0 U.S. loss, surpassed a 1999 Women's
World Cup semifinal match between U.S. and Brazil, watched by 2.88 million
television homes. Previously, the highest-rated soccer telecast on ESPN was
a 4.26 for the first-round match of the 1994 World Cup between U.S. and
Colombia.
Additional ratings highlights from U.S. - Germany:
ESPN's morning telecasts of 21 World Cup matches through June 21 have
averaged a 1.09 rating, up 230% over the 0.33 average rating for the 1:30 -
9:30 a.m. time period in June 2001. Television households for the matches
on ESPN have averaged 948,000, up 251% from the time period last year.
ESPN2's 33 telecasts have averaged a 0.57 rating and 476,000 households, a
ratings increase of 418% (0.11 rating in 2001) and household increase of
473% (83,000 television homes) over the time period last year.
Ratings and household impressions for ESPN and ESPN2 are up for the 2002
Men's World Cup from Korea and Japan compared to the 1998 World Cup in
France, which generally was aired between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET
With a 1.09 average rating to-date in 2002 for 21 telecasts, ESPN's rating
is up 19% over the 0.94 average in 1998. Households are up 37%, averaging
948,000 in 2002 compared to 691,000 in 1998. ESPN2's ratings are up two
percent - 0.57 in 2002 - over a 0.56 average in 1998. Television households
are up 47 percent - 476,000 in 2002 - against the average of 323,000 in
1998.
Some of the world's top sports advertisers are the beneficiaries of these
ratings. In all, 28 partners are supporting the broadcast including such
leading brands as Budweiser, Chevrolet, adidas, MasterCard, Volkswagen,
Nike, Burger King, Canon, Apple, Subway, Philips, ADT, and Yahoo.
"We would like to thank our partners for the faith they have shown in our ability to
deliver the results they expect," said Garber. "These companies took a risk
with us and are being handsomely rewarded by the soccer fans in this
country."
WORLD CUP SEMIFINALS ON ESPN
ESPN's live coverage of the 2002 Men's World Cup continues Tuesday
with the semifinal match between the South Korea and Germany Friday at 7:25
a.m. ET. ESPN will also present Wednesday's semifinal match - Turkey vs.
Brazil - at 7:25 a.m. live from Saitama, Japan. Jack Edwards and analysts Ty
Keough will call the action Tuesday from Seoul. JP Dellacamera and analyst
Tommy Smyth will call Wednesday's match.
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