The USA team’s unexpected run to the final of Fifa’s Confederations Cup generated strong audiences for cable broadcaster ESPN, according to EurodataTV Worldwide and TV Sports Markets.
An audience of 3.6 million (a five-per-cent share) watched USA lose 3-2 in the final to Brazil, close to the network’s biggest audience for a USA match at the 2006 World Cup – 3.8 million for the team’s game against Ghana (9.1-per-cent share). The final was also shown on Spanish-language networks Univision and Telefutura (full audience information is available in the next edition of the TV Sports Markets newsletter).
According to TV Sports Markets, the Disney-owned ABC/ESPN and Univision acquired the rights for all Fifa events, including the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, in an eight-year deal worth $425 million.
The 2009 Confederations Cup has proved to be good value for its broadcasters in a year without a major sports event like a football World Cup or an Olympics, delivering strong audiences in the usually quiet football month of June.
Italian free-to-air broadcaster Rai’s biggest audience was 9.4 million (39.2-per-cent share) for Italy’s group stage win against the USA, which is at the level of a top Formula One race or Champions League football match. The final attracted 6.3 million, a 32.1-per-cent share.
