To the notebook now. Lots of things to get to.
NEWS
The Women’s World Cup is still scoring for Fox. After the U.S. Women’s team’s debut last week vs. Australia which drew 3.331 million viewers on Fox Sports 1, Friday’s game against Sweden and the US’ former coach Pia Sundhage averaged 4.5 million viewers. That made the game the most-watched soccer match ever on Fox eclipsing the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final which had 2.6 million viewers.
In addition, the game became most-watched Women’s World Cup Group Stage match ever surpassing the record set in 2011. And it’s the fourth most-watched Women’s World Cup match ever on U.S. TV.
We have the Fox announcement:
WINNIPEG, MB – JUNE 12: Megan Rapinoe #15 of the United States moves the ball against Elin Rubensson #23 of Sweden in the second half in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 match at Winnipeg Stadium on June 12, 2015 in Winnipeg, Canada. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
RECORD PACE CONTINUES FOR FOX SPORTS’ FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2015™ COVERAGE
4.5 Million Watch USA – Sweden; Audience Peaks at 6.4 Million Viewers
Match is Most-Watched Women’s World Cup Group Stage Match Ever;
Sets New Soccer Mark on FOX
Vancouver, B.C. – The U.S. Women’s National Team played to a 0-0 draw with Sweden in its second of three FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2015 Group Stage matches Friday night in Winnipeg, Manitoba and like the team’s first match, it broke multiple audience records.
USA-Sweden audience highlights:
- The match attracted 4.5 million viewers, and is the most-watched FIFA Women’s World Cup Group Stage match ever (supplanting Monday’s USA-Australia match), and is the most-watched soccer match ever on FOX, displacing the 2011 UEFA Champions League Final between Barcelona and Manchester United which posted 2.6 million viewers by +73%, according to Nielsen.
- USA-Sweden is the fourth most-watched women’s soccer match of all time, trailing only the following Women’s World Cup matches: USA-China in 1999 (17,975,000); Japan-USA in 2011 (13,458,000); and Brazil-USA in 1999 (4,924,000).
- The USA-Sweden match posted an audience +36% compared to USA-Australia, the team’s first Group Stage match in this tournament (4.5 million vs. 3.3 million).
- The audience for USA-Sweden (4.5 million) is +137% better than the USA’s second FIFA Women’s World Cup Group Stage match on ESPN in 2011 (1.9 million viewers).
- Based on the fast nationals, FOX placed first for the night in primetime among broadcast networks (4.9 million viewers from 8:00-10:00 PM ET), besting ABC and CBS (4.8 million viewers).
- FOX easily won the night across all key male and adult demographics including Adults 18-49. The entire program posted 2.0 million viewers in the demo, and 2.2 million within primetime.
- Friday night’s match gave FOX its best Friday in primetime since December when it televised the Pac-12 Football Championship Game.
- Viewership for USA-Sweden peaked from 9:30-9:45 PM ET with 6.4 million viewers.
- Through the first five match days for which national audience figures are available, plus the USA-Sweden match, the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 is averaging 1.061 million viewers, +56% better than 2011’s comparable average of 678,000 on ESPN and ESPN 2.
- Top 10 Markets for USA-Sweden: Richmond (5.6); Las Vegas (5.1); Milwaukee (5.0); Columbus (4.5); St. Louis (4.3); Washington, D.C.(4.2); Norfolk (4.2); New Orleans (4.2); Providence (4.2); and Dayton (4.2).
- Top Markets for both USA matches combined: Washington D.C. (4.3); Richmond (4.0); St. Louis (4.0); Baltimore (3.9); Hartford (3.8); Milwaukee (3.8); Providence (3.5); Kansas City (3.4); Dayton (3.3); Las Vegas (3.2); Los Angeles (3.2); Norfolk (3.2); and Philadelphia (3.2).
From Sports TV Ratings site, Saturday’s NHL Stanley Cup Final Game 5 on NBC garnered a lower overnight rating from last year’s Game 5.
The game between Chicago and Tampa received a 3.8 overnight number which is down from 2014’s Game 5 (4.6). But a couple of factors here. First, last year’s Game 5 between the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers went two overtimes and second, it was the deciding game of the series.
Expect Game 6 tonight to be higher as it has the potential to be a deciding game plus Monday nights get a bigger TV audience than Saturdays.
LINKAGE
In his weekly Monday media column, Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch explores how Fox will cover its first U.S. Open this week plus a look at Dwayne Wade’s interview of LeBron James and whether it could lead to a TV career down the road.
Your humble blogger also wrote a preview of Fox’s U.S. Open coverage at Awful Announcing.
The Hollywood Reporter tells us that the NFL has tapped a former WB Network boss as its first-ever Chief of Content.
Anthony Crupi of Advertising Age says Patron has bought a series of integration ads on ESPN’s SportsCenter.
In the Sherman Report, Ed Sherman talks with the anti-facial hair NBC Sports Group chair Mark Lazarus on the Peacock winning the Open Championship rights.
It’s said that when you’re releasing bad news, announce it late on Friday which is exactly what ESPN did when it regarding Jason Whitlock and his site “The Undefeated.” Richard Sandomir of the New York Times writes about ESPN’s decision to remove Whitlock as editor-in-chief.
Two stories from Phil Mushnick of the New York Post. First, Mushie goes after Fox and its upcoming U.S. Open coverage even though it has yet to air one second of golf this week. And Mushnick’s anger spreads to ESPN and its ESPY Award to Caitlyn Jenner and once again, he’s as insulting as can be.
Ken Schott from the Schenectady Gazette notes that NHL on NBC voice Dave Strader has become the TV voice of the Dallas Stars.
In the Denver Post, Dusty Saunders looks at Fox’s upcoming U.S. Open coverage.
To the Los Angeles Daily News where Tom Hoffarth has a look at the SoCal TV calendar.
Tom has his take on The Undefeated mess.
And that is where we’ll end the notebook today. Enjoy your Monday.
