Univision Beating ABC, ESPN2 In Average World Cup Viewership

Univision through the first 14 matches of the FIFA World Cup outdrew English-language telecasts on ABC and ESPN2 by 11%, averaging 2,255,000 million viewers. Univision has also averaged 1.4 million adults 18-49, besting ABC/ESPN2’s 1.2 million average by 18%. The 2,255,000 average viewers per game is up 148% from Univision’s average during the ’02 World Cup and up 101% from ’98 (Univision).

Lalas (r) And Wynalda Having Trouble Disassociating From U.S. Team

STUDIO REVIEW: In L.A., Tom Hoffarth notes ESPN soccer studio analysts Alexi Lalas and Eric Wynalda, both former U.S. men’s national team members, “actually called attention to the fact they couldn’t stop using the word ‘we’ in their post-match diatribe [following the U.S.’ loss to the Czech Republic], despite what their network bosses told them.” Wynalda: “I’ve been getting a lot of (garbage) for it, but it’s impossible to disassociate myself. ... It’s the only tournament where the victor gets to share it with an entire country” (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 6/16). Lalas: “All American players understand how we’re judged every four years. We accept that the majority of the media is uneducated about soccer. If this team bombs, they’ll write the obligatory story — using the failure of this team as an indictment of all U.S. soccer” (USA TODAY, 6/16).

TWO-TIMING: In Sacramento, Marcos Breton reports KXTV-ABC will air Saturday’s U.S.-Italy match, which kicks off at 11:30am PT, via tape-delay at 3:00pm due to its “contractual obligation” to show the WNBA Storm-Monarchs game at 1:00pm (SACRAMENTO BEE, 6/16).

PRODUCTION QUESTION: In Richmond, Jerry Lindquist wondered, “Why would anybody bother to stay tuned to World Cup 2006 matches between halves?” During France-Switzerland on Tuesday, “of the 16 minutes, all but about four were for words from ESPN2’s many sponsors. Viewers got a very brief studio analysis. There were some highlights and a shot of players leaving the locker room, followed by a second-half lead-in by announcers” (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 6/15). ESPN Senior Coordinating Producer Tim Scanlan before the World Cup was asked what he would change about producing a game: “I wish I had more time. I really would like to see a 15-minute pregame show. ... I’d also like to minimize commercial content at halftime so we have the proper amount of time to tell the game story” (THE DAILY).