FIFA World Cup coverage from Brazil "is setting TV viewing records in 2014," according to Arif Durrani of MEDIA WEEK. The group matches "have set TV records in a number of markets." Sales of TV advertising and subscriptions "have also benefitted."
A total of 11.5 million Dutch viewers (88.4%) "watched their national team’s victory over Chile" -- 10.2 million at home and 1.3 million in public places.
A record number of 42.9 million Brazilians "tuned in to see their team's win over Croatia," while 81.3% of Croatians watched the game (1.5 million).
Brazil-Croatia "was also the most-watched opening match in at least 12 years" in the U.K., with 11.2 million U.K. viewers (records going back to '02).
The Belgium versus South Korea match was "the most-watched football game in the history of Belgian television, reaching three million Flemish fans" (82.8% of TV viewers) and 2.1 million French-speaking Belgians (82.1%).
Viewing records also were reported in the U.K. -- a peak of 20 million (71% share) watched England versus Uruguay, "the highest peak audience on any channel since the 2012 London Olympics" (MEDIA WEEK, 6/27). FIFA TV Dir Niclas Ericson said, "We believe the overall audience figures from the 2014 FIFA World Cup will show that the World Cup is the most popular single-sporting event on the planet and that football is the world's number one sport" (FIFA).
GROUP STAGE: QUOTENMETER's Manuel Weis reported German public broadcaster ZDF "set a new ratings record for its broadcast of the World Cup game between Germany and the U.S. on Thursday." A total of 27.25 million viewers tuned in to watch the match starting at 6pm. The number translated into a market share of 87.1%. The game set a new record as the highest-rated program on German TV in '14. In the target demographic 14-49, Germany's 1-0 win obtained a market share of 84.2%. ZDF's pregame coverage obtained a 30.1% market share in the target demographic. Starting at 4:05pm, the pregame show attracted an average of 3.14 million viewers. The game between Russia and Algeria, which started at 10pm, was watched by 8.61 million viewers and had a 43.1% share. In the target demographic, the 1-1 draw had a 40.8% market share (QUOTENMETER, 6/27).
ROUND OF 16: QUOTENMETER's David Grzeschik reported Saturday's first round of 16 matchup between Brazil and Chile "attracted more than 14 million viewers on German public broadcaster ARD." A total of 14.06 million viewers tuned in to watch the game. The number translated into a market share of 57.9%. In the target demographic, Brazil's 3-2 win in penalty kicks attracted 5.38 million viewers and had a 60.3% market share. The day's second game between Uruguay and Colombia was watched by 10.65 million viewers and had a 45.3% share. In the target demographic, Colombia's 2-0 victory obtained a 46.5% share while 4.4 million viewers tuned in (QUOTENMETER, 6/29).
