By 2%, the networks of ESPN are seeing a higher audience for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil than the 2010 edition in South Africa. Through the first eleven games, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 have combined for an average of a 2.3 rating and 3.74 million viewers.
ESPN says its WatchESPN app is also setting digital records by seeing a 157% increase in its usage.
Check out what ESPN is saying about its audience.
2014 World Cup Setting Audience Records across ESPN’s Digital and TV Platforms
ESPN’s 2014 World Cup coverage has generated significant audiences across its television and digital platforms through the first 11 games.
Four of the seven games televised on ESPN or ESPN2 are the networks’ most-viewed Group Play games not involving a United States team (212 games since 1994).
ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC have combined to average 3,740,000 viewers (based on a 2.3 US HH rating) for the first 11 matches, marking a two percent viewer increase over the 2010 World Cup – which included the United States vs. England match on the second day of the tournament. (Note: The 2014 vs. 2010 audience increase is 37 percent higher when ABC’s 13,130,000 viewers (7.4 US HH rating) for the 2010 United States opening round game is removed.)
Additionally, WatchESPN has averaged 209,000 viewers in the average minute across 11 World Cup matches, which represents a six percent lift over the ESPN Networks’ TV audience for a total of 3,949,000 viewers across TV and WatchESPN.
WatchESPN, along with other ESPN digital platforms, continues to add to ESPN’s overall World Cup growth story:
- In addition to setting usage records, WatchESPN has posted a 157 percent increase in viewers and 170 percent in minutes through the first 11 games, averaging 643,000 viewers and 27,100,000 minutes viewed per match.
- ESPNFC.com is also generating significant usage increases, averaging 3,700,000 daily unique visitors for an 18 percent increase over 2010 and 3,200,000 video starts per day for a 754 percent increase.
- ESPN.com is seeing 12,600,000 average daily unique visitors (a 32 percent increase from 2010) and 11,000,000 video starts per day (up 140 percent).
- The SportsCenter app is averaging 4,200,000 daily unique visitors for a 447 percent over 2010
We should see very good numbers for USA’s win over Ghana especially as the game was ending in early prime on the East Coast.
