While ESPN and ESPN2's World Cup ratings are down from
'94, the two nets have "scored dramatic" time slot increases
over their '98 first quarter numbers, according to Michael
Starr of the N.Y. POST. As of yesterday, ESPN's World Cup
ratings were up 17% at 8:00am, 60% at 11:00am and 125% at
2:30pm, while ESPN2's time slot increases were even "more
dramatic": a 300% increase at 8:00am, 200% at 11:00am and
300% at 2:30pm (N.Y. POST, 6/19). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's
Steve McKee writes that ABC/ESPN's ad-free game broadcasts
"are great, but freedom's just another word for putting
commercials someplace else." McKee says that during about
48 minutes of pre, post-and halftime coverage during
Monday's U.S.-Germany game, ABC "managed to squeeze in 58 of
them." McKee also criticizes ABC's Ty Keough and Brent
Musburger for jingoism (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/19).
Musburger called the U.S. team's Monday performance
"atrocious," adding, "The U.S. doesn't understand how
physical they are in worldwide soccer. We haven't improved
since 1994. It's a disaster for U.S. soccer if they go
winless in the World Cup" (USA TODAY, 6/19).