[MY VIEW] Just how many folks were watching USA-Algeria Wednesday morning? Let’s do the math … Totaling the number of the viewers isn’t easy inthis age of multiple platforms, but here’s a start: 6.2 million (ESPN) 2.2million (Univision) 1.1 million (ESPN3.com) 650,000 (ESPN Mobile) That totals almost 10.2million viewers (and doesn’t include those who watched […]
television
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Viewership records set by USA-Algeria
[TELEVISION WATCH] Wednesday’s broadcast of the USA-Algeria game on ESPN was the the highest-rated and most-watched soccer game in the history of ESPNnetworks, delivering a 4.6 rating (4.0 household U.S. rating), 4,582,000 households and 6,161,000 viewers. Significantly, the broadcast was the highest-rated program of the day on anynetwork among two key demographic groups, males 18-34 […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Records broken for USA-Slovenia broadcast
[TELEVISION WATCH] More than 3.9 million households watched Friday’s USA-Slovenia game on ESPN, making it the most-watched game in terms of households in thehistory of ESPN networks. Just as it was for the USA-England game, San Diego had the highest rating of any market with a 8.5. The USA-Slovenia game ranks third among viewers (5,200,000),behind […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Casillas' girlfriend blamed for loss
[SPAIN] How angry are Spaniards about losing to Switzerland? Some are blaming sideline reporter Sara Carbonero — thegirlfriend of Iker Casillas — for distracting the Spanish goalie on the Swiss goal. To make matters, it was Carbonero’s job after the game to ask Casillas whatwent wrong … Carbonero, a sideline reporter for Telecinco, didn’t pull […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Orange mini-skirts are no-no
[OFF THE POST] A group of young Dutch women were detained by authorities after Monday’s Netherlands-Denmark game, and ITV World Cup play-by-play commentator,former Jamaican international Robbie Earle, was fired after tickets issued in his name ended up in their hands to get into the game. The transgression of theyoung women? Dressing up in orange mini-skirts. […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Viewers double on ABC, ESPN and Univision
[TELEVISION WATCH] It comes as no surprise, given the hype and extensive promotional efforts surrounding the World Cup, that the early broadcasts on ESPN, ABCand Univision have drawn record ratings and viewerships. The USA-England game on ABC was the most-viewed first-round game ever with a 7.3 household rating and 12,956,000 viewers, based onfast nationals. It […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
U.S. fans can get their fix at Studio90
[WEB VIDEO WATCH] Although the domestic television coverage of the 2010 World Cup is the most indepth American audiences have seen, for some diehard fans itsimply isn’t enough. If you’re looking for even more coverage of the boys in stars and stripes in South Africa, head over to ussoccer.com and check out its Studio90 web […]
Posted inSpecial Edition, Story
Brilliant images, shoddy commentary
[TELEVISION WATCH] The broadcast of the World Cup opener provided brilliant, efficient replays, making ESPN color commentator Efan Ekoku‘sblundering analysis of the first-half offside call even more puzzling. In the 38th minute, Carlos Vela’s header into the South African goal was quickly and correctlyruled offside by referee Ravshan Irmatov. Vela had struck after a Mexico […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Martin Tyler on Bill Buckner and Vince Scully
English announcer Martin Tyler, who will head ESPN’s coverage of the World Cup as its lead play-by-play man, is familiar with American sports and Americansports coverage on television, dating back the 1984 Olympics when he produced the world feed for the soccer coverage of the Los Angeles Olympics. He was on hand for one of […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Soccer coverage, like night and day
[TELEVISION WATCH] There’s been a lot to like about ESPN’s pre-World Cup coverage. ESPN2’s preview show demonstrated the lengths ESPN has gone tocover the 2010 tournament. We’re used to Bob Ley, going back more than a decade, but top-of-the-line studio hosts Mike Tirico and Chris Fowler didn’t miss a beat. And we really liked Wigan […]