Russia-Saudi Arabia drew a 1.6 overnight, down from the 3.4 Brazil-Croatia opener on ESPN in '14getty images
Fox on Thursday drew a 1.6 overnight rating for Russia's 5-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the opener for the FIFA World Cup. That figure from 11:00am-1:00pm ET was down from the opener on ESPN four years ago, when host nation Brazil played Croatia (3.4 overnight). That game was in the 4:00-6:00pm window. Eight years ago, from 10:00am-12:00pm, ESPN drew a 2.3 overnight rating for the opener, which featured South Africa-Mexico (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
TRUE CHALLENGE: The AP's Tim Booth noted whether this World Cup will "resonate with American viewers is one of the big questions facing" the entire Fox production. That leaves Fox' John Strong, Stuart Holden and other broadcasters with the "challenge of drawing in casual fans who would watch the World Cup if the U.S. was playing, but now may not be as interested in the tournament." However, the burden "isn't directly on Strong and Holden." Their job is to "give their broadcasts enough context to satisfy hardcore fans without confusing novices who don't know all the backstories." The tourney will be a "wild ride" for Strong and Holden, who will be "calling a match, traveling via plane, or both for every day of the group stage" (AP, 6/14). Strong said, "This is everything, my Mt. Everest. The only thing I’ve ever wanted to do is be a play-by-play announcer and from a fairly young age, soccer was by far the one I wanted. This is the ultimate. So, to be able to do this is surreal" (N.Y. POST, 6/15). AWFUL ANNOUNCING's Shlomo Sprung wrote Strong is a "very skilled game caller." His "biggest challenge during his first men's World Cup will be staying mentally focused and out of his own head." Strong said that his "biggest concern is getting all the necessary preparation done before the matches begin so he can truly appreciate the energy and the excitement of the World Cup" (AWFULANNOUNCING.com, 6/13).
HARDWOOD TO THE PITCH: In Ft. Worth, Mac Engel notes Mavericks TV announcer Mark Followill is "scheduled to call nine matches" for Fox Sports' World Cup coverage. Followill is "not some soccer novice entering" this World Cup. He approached Fox producers and executives about "calling soccer more than five years ago and has been a regular calling FC Dallas games" in the Mavericks' offseason (Ft. Worth STAR-TELEGRAM, 6/15).
ALL IN: ADWEEK's A.J. Katz noted Comcast is bringing a "massive World Cup content hub" to its Xfinity X1 platform, with screens, menus and voice commands "available in both languages." The content will "integrate all live linear coverage from Telemundo ... and Fox Sports ... on the X1 platform, where 22 million residential X1 video subscribers will have the ability to watch full-game replays, highlights, web video, real-time analytics and on-screen player and team stats." X1 customers will also be able to "receive notifications on their TV or phone, letting them know when their go-to team is about to hit the soccer pitch." The Xfinity Stream mobile app will have "livestreams of World Cup action on the English- and Spanish-language U.S. networks carrying the matches" (ADWEEK.com, 6/14).
