SportsBusiness Daily — Sports Business Resources — your sports business news and information source. Learn More
Advanced
Home About Us Advertise With Us Marketplace/Classifieds College & University Program Subscribe/Trial My Account

Friday
June 16, 2006
Print This Issue


 
MOST VIEWED STORIES
View the top 20 stories
 
Recent Issues
Sports Media

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).


Get A Free Trial To SportsBusiness Daily

Reader Comments

To post comments on this article, log in or register for a free trial.

Related Stories By Company Related Stories By Sport
Tiger's Return Could Draw Record Ratings
March 17, 2010 : SportsBusiness Daily

Anson Promotes England's World Cup Bid
March 16, 2010 : SportsBusiness Daily

Masters Broadcast To Include 10 Hours In 3D
March 16, 2010 : SportsBusiness Daily

CBS Flat With '09 For NCAA Selection Show
March 15, 2010 : SportsBusiness Daily

ESPN's "Winning Time" Earns Rave Reviews
March 12, 2010 : SportsBusiness Daily

Sounders Owner Says Strike May Kill MLS
March 17, 2010 : SportsBusiness Daily

Citi Signs On As WPS Founding Partner
March 17, 2010 : SportsBusiness Daily

Anson Promotes England's World Cup Bid
March 16, 2010 : SportsBusiness Daily

Tim Leiweke Discusses MLS Labor
March 16, 2010 : SportsBusiness Daily

Beckham Injury Will Hurt MLS, U.S. Soccer
March 16, 2010 : SportsBusiness Daily

ALSO IN THIS SECTION


A Publication of Street & Smith's Sports Group.
Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (REVISED 2009-06-23) and Privacy Policy (REVISED 2009-06-23).

© 2010 Street & Smith's Sports Group and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Street & Smith's Sports Group.