Sun, Jun 22, 2014 U.S. vs Portugal World Cup Soccer TV Ratings

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/24/business/media/bigger-than-baseball-us-portugal-world-cup-match-outdoes-world-series-in-ratings.html

With an audience of 25 million viewers for Sunday’s game between the United States and Portugal, the World Cup is moving into elite territory.

Ratings for the game were the highest for any soccer game telecast in America and reached more viewers than events like the N.B.A. finals or the World Series.

... the American audience for the World Cup game on Sunday easily eclipsed the N.B.A. finals this year, which averaged 15.5 million viewers, as well as the 2013 World Series, which averaged 14.9 million viewers.

The N.H.L. playoffs are not even remotely as popular as the World Cup, having averaged only five million viewers this season.

ESPN reported Monday that the game was its most-watched event outside of N.F.L. or college football. But it even rivaled the audience for the B.C.S. championship game on ESPN last January. That game averaged 25.7 million viewers, only counting the ESPN numbers. Sunday’s World Cup game peaked in viewership on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. when it reached almost 23 million viewers.

Also, as with all major sports events, the numbers do not accurately reflect viewers who watched the game in groups — in bars and other locations.

And watching a World Cup soccer match seems to be social event at bars or even at outdoor viewing areas.

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