World Cup final makes viewing history in U.S.

[nadinbrzezinski]

World Cup final makes viewing history in U.S.
By DAVID BARRON
Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle
July 12, 2010, 4:57PM
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Michael Paulsen Chronicle
In Houston, more than 800,000 viewers on average watched the Spain-Netherlands game – 511,000 on KXLN (Channel 45) in Spanish and 293,000 in English on KTRK (Channel 13).

Share Del.icio.usDiggTwitterYahoo! BuzzFacebookStumbleUponEmail Close Spain’s victory over the Netherlands in the World Cup final Sunday from South Africa was the most-watched soccer game in U.S. television history, the Nielsen Company said Monday.

The game was viewed by an average audience of 24.3 million viewers on ABC and Univision, beating the previous record of 19.4 million for the United States-Ghana game on June 26. The 1994 World Cup final between Brazil and Italy drew an average audience of 18.1 million viewers on English- and Spanish-language TV.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/soc/7105014.html

This is showing that yes it is starting to take hold, and I for one am happy about this. Also FIFA expected 700 million world wide, but those numbers, as in hard numbers, have not been released yet. THey expected 700 million from last world cup... so I expect it higher than 700 million.

Of course the bombing at those two restaurants was not funny.

Oh and locally a few of the local sports bars had overflowing crowds watching

Too bad it was the dirtiest game in Word Cup final history...

And now it is in the books... and I cannot wait for four years from now.

[tularetom]

1. Regardless of what American xenophobes say, it was an exciting game

And athletic skill and teamwork triumphed over physical intimidation.

I had a lot of things to do yesterday, but I couldn't tear myself away from that match.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. It was a very dirty game

Now Saturday's, from a football perspective, was a better game.

We are going to go watch a friendly match on Wendesday at the lcoal stadium... between a Mexican League Team and a Premiere leage team. (Aguilas del America and Southhamptom) I expect better soccer.

:-)

But it had it's drama too. and I love watching a game at that level.

But you are right, soccer is starting to grow some roots here.

Still it is funny when I was talking about it wiht my mom, who watched the second half and OT in Mexico City... the conversation today was ... the lack of red cards and hwo the ref lost control.

I am looking forwards to Brazil... and of course the day after tomorrow.

[Artie Bucco]

8. I thought the Wilas were playing Portsmouth.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. You are right

http://www.sandiegoclasico.com/

[Johonny]

17. I agree

I thought there was way better games this world cup, but isn't often like that in sports. The final game ends up a let down. Although it was exactly the game I was expecting.

[Upton]

2. That's great news..

the sport continues to gain in popularity. And there wouldn't have been so many yellow cards if Howard Webb hadn't have been dealing..

Also there was way too much diving, mostly by the Spanish..

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. There should have been a few reds

I know you don't like to hear that. But that's the truth. A certain flying kick to the chest comes to mind.

And by the way... I just hung the phone with my mom in Mexico City, guess what the locals at the coffee shop they go to every morning were talking about? The lack of Red cards.

And you should read the British press. The Guardian yesterday was all but kind to Webb for losing control of the game and NOT giving a few reds, including that one.

[Upton]

6. Okay..

De Jong probably should have gotten a red, but same goes for Puyol when he pulled back Robben and denied him a clear scoring opportunity. It works both ways.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Yeah it does

and there is the penaltyh not awarded... I could go on. As I said I did not have favorites. Webb blew it... but hey for a WC with bad refs... par for the course. I wish Zuniega got to do the final quite honestly (He did the Saturday game)... and Saturday had ONE questionable, but not game aletering call in the whole game... that is acceptable. Yesterday... oh boy, what can I say?

But that kick could be deadly. I used to be a medic, and precordial thumbs have an application in ALS, not in soccer.

[miscsoc]

5. one of the things i liked about america

is that despite its various flaws, it was always immune to the wretched and tedious game of soccer. so i'm disappointed :(

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. You know like I told my dad oh decades ago about Baseball

you don't understand it.

Mind you, I stopped watching or following baseball with the strike... but I do understand baseball, and I would never call it boring... slow, perhaps. So you don't get it. That's ok. I personally hope that we do get the WC in 2018 or 2022. I cannot wait to actually go watch a WC game at an actual statium, and no I don't care who is on the pitch...

[miscsoc]

11. actually tbh i just hate football because i am bad at it

it brings back terrible memories of the school playground!

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. I was never a sports super star

and my memories regarding bullies and other issues are not that good either.

:-)

So yes I get it.

My memories were superceeded with workign with a few kids at risk, in the ciudades perdidas down in TJ... just turst me, playing soccer in a field full of small ahem rocks,with out shoes, is not for the faint of heart.

[Artie Bucco]

12. I think the US made a great case for itself to host.

With viewership increasing as dramatically as it did. However, I don't know about the US's chances of putting on a similar performance in the group stage in the 2014 World Cup.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. If they keep improving

but what I told my hubby applies. The two best teams in CONCACAF are Mexico and the US... so they need to start playing in other tourneys, for both teams to get much better. They have done some of that... but both need to do it much more I fear. That costs money.

That said the rivavly between the US and Mexico has gone from a training game to a real rivalry.

[Artie Bucco]

18. I will mention the problems with both teams; and by default their respective leagues

Mexico's problem is that that many teams choose to buy foreigners instead of developing local kids. This is not a knock at foreigners but this is a knock at the quality of foreigners in the league, I think foreigners make any league more competitive. Unfortunately in Mexico for every Humberto Suazo, Darwin Quintero, Dario Veron or Jackson Martinez there are 5 foreigners that just come to collect checks and take away spots from young local kids. All in all the lack of youth development outside of Guadalajara and Mexico City is sorely lacking and a majority of local players come from those two cities. It pains me to see that a city like Monterrey is sorely lacking behind the teams in those cities in terms of youth development when they have the resources to have effective youth development systems. The Mexican league has been a springboard for South American players into Europe for a while now and it finally seems to be turning into a springboard for Mexican players as well.

In the case of the US the MLS is a lackluster league and it seems to hurt defensive progress. The 5-0 route that the US suffered against Mexico in the Gold Cup shows that the MLS's defense is not up to par. It is because of this I think the biggest question mark for the US next World Cup will be the defense. In youth development dynamic players are often overlooked for stronger and more physical players. Strength and tenacity can help you get wins but technique can help teams go far. In terms of coaching, not a knock at Bradley, the US is also lagging.

[Upton]

19. All that may be true..

but the majority of US internationals play in Europe, not the MLS.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. Yep, agreed on all that

of course in Mexico the Tri is also known as the "mighty mice." THey roar like lions, but they play like mice.

What can I say?

THe MLS has another problem... a lack of a youth system. We really need to either transform the NCAA into the lower division (which for other reasons, see college Ameircan football) I'd hate to see. Or plain out the US needs to develop a good pipeline for kids to develop, and that includes finesse. That said the American player seems to be getting the worst habits of the premiere league and try to do things by brawn not finesse. While the Mexican Players need to develop finnesse just becuase of their size when compared to European players.

They had a story on NPR on how the scouts for the Tigres del Monterrey, the Mexican National Youth Team, and college scouts were looking for players... that story summarized the problems with both leagues actually, if you listened carefully.

Now the NCAA route might work, as it did for Baseball for many years (Tony Gwynn not only coaches SDSU these days, but came out of SDSU and went to the Padres)

[nadinbrzezinski]

Yep, agreed on all that

of course in Mexico the Tri is also known as the "mighty mice." THey roar like lions, but they play like mice.

What can I say?

THe MLS has another problem... a lack of a youth system. We really need to either transform the NCAA into the lower division (which for other reasons, see college Ameircan football) I'd hate to see. Or plain out the US needs to develop a good pipeline for kids to develop, and that includes finesse. That said the American player seems to be getting the worst habits of the premiere league and try to do things by brawn not finesse. While the Mexican Players need to develop finnesse just becuase of their size when compared to European players.

They had a story on NPR on how the scouts for the Tigres del Monterrey, the Mexican National Youth Team, and college scouts were looking for players... that story summarized the problems with both leagues actually, if you listened carefully.

Now the NCAA route might work, as it did for Baseball for many years (Tony Gwynn not only coaches SDSU these days, but came out of SDSU and went to the Padres)

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. Yep, agreed on all that

of course in Mexico the Tri is also known as the "mighty mice." THey roar like lions, but they play like mice.

What can I say?

THe MLS has another problem... a lack of a youth system. We really need to either transform the NCAA into the lower division (which for other reasons, see college Ameircan football) I'd hate to see. Or plain out the US needs to develop a good pipeline for kids to develop, and that includes finesse. That said the American player seems to be getting the worst habits of the premiere league and try to do things by brawn not finesse. While the Mexican Players need to develop finnesse just becuase of their size when compared to European players.

They had a story on NPR on how the scouts for the Tigres del Monterrey, the Mexican National Youth Team, and college scouts were looking for players... that story summarized the problems with both leagues actually, if you listened carefully.

Now the NCAA route might work, as it did for Baseball for many years (Tony Gwynn not only coaches SDSU these days, but came out of SDSU and went to the Padres)

[alfredo]

15. The Germany/Uruguay match was very entertaining.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Yes, yes it was

in fact one of the best in the WC...

[alfredo]

24. And it wasn't just the scoring. There was some "cosmic justice"

when the equalizer hit the crossbar.

[nevergiveup]

22. I found the final frustrating but I couldn't tear myself away from it.

It was a very entertaining World Cup and I think the American team did themselves proud even though they sort of choked in the Ghana game. I know several non-soccer folks who watched all the American games and were totally blown away by the dramatic ending in the Algeria game. Although there were still a few soccer-bashers who came out of the woodwork, as they always do during a World Cup, they are diminishing in numbers as more and more Americans learn to appreciate or at least be more tolerant of "The Beautiful Game".

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. I grew up with Soccer and I found the last game frustrating

so did my mother who was sharing the comments in a soccer country where the word is, boy this game was DIRTY and the Ref lost control.

But that USA, USA, USA at that Donovan goal at the last possible second made a few converts.

:-)

And no I could not tear myself apart either... all fouls and all that it was still dramatic.

And let's face it, a few plays should have been converted, on BOTH sides. Which meant, them goalies were incredible!

[gristy]

25. an average audience of 24.3 million viewers on ABC and Univision?

So there were 48.6 million total? Or did the writer mean to say that there was a total audience of 24.3 million viewers on ABC and Univision?

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. TOTAL, that was sloppy writing

I am still looking for the world Numbers. Those will be harder to wrangle...Last WC final saw 700 million, so I am positive it was more than 700 million, yet finding them is proving to be more difficult.

[ikri]

28. 700 million seem really low

I've read that the true viewing figures for other World Cup finals have been over 2 billion.

Also, if you calculate the viewing figures in the same way that they're calculated for the Super Bowl (potential viewers across all broadcasters) then pretty much everyone outside North Korea can be classed as a viewer.

[nadinbrzezinski]

29. Yeah but FIFA uses hard data

not the NFL does it. And let's be honest, that limits them to ... places they can actually get ratings. That be Europe and North America.

So yes I agree. I've heard potential numbers floated as high as 3B

[malaise]

27. It is great news

Brazil will be even better given the time zones.

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. This sounds ridicolous but can't wait

that will be a hell of a party.