Other Sports U.S. soccer ratings top NBA Finals - Page 10

Eleazar · 07-03-2014, 04:15 AM

NEW YORK -- An estimated 21.6 million people watched Belgium knock out the United States in the World Cup on U.S. television -- an impressive total for a weekday afternoon that almost certainly undercounts how many people actually saw it.

The Nielsen company said Wednesday that 16.5 million people watched the game on ESPN, with 5.1 million more seeing it on the Spanish-language Univision network. In addition, nearly 1.7 million people watched an online stream of the event, Nielsen said.

The record U.S. television audience for soccer is the 24.7 million who saw the United States play Portugal on June 24, which tied the 2010 World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands.

The Portugal game took place on a weekend, however, when there were more people with free time available to watch. The U.S.-Belgium game started at 4 p.m. on the East Coast, earlier in other time zones, during a working day.

Nielsen does not measure viewership in bars, offices or other public places. In 2010, ESPN estimated that the stated audience size for weekday World Cup games would increase by 23 percent if public viewing were taken into account.

Still, Tuesday's knockout game exceeded the average viewership for the most recent World Series and NBA Finals, events that took place during prime-time when more people were home to watch.

The just-concluded NBA Finals where the San Antonio Spurs beat the Miami Heat averaged 15.5 million viewers, with 18 million watching the final game. Last fall's World Series averaged 14.9 million viewers, with 19.2 million watching the Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the last game.

U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said on Wednesday that everyone connected with the soccer team is excited to see how the sport is reaching a U.S. audience. He could see it coming, given the popularity of the game among young people and the large crowds that turned out for the team's sendoff games before the World Cup.

"Soccer is breaking through and gets its deserved recognition without taking anything away from the other big American sports," Klinsmann said.

He said it's important for people to identify with the way Americans played the game.

"The energy and the commitment and the tempo and the aggressiveness that we played with kind of made people proud at home and surprised a lot of people outside of the United States, maybe in Brazil or in Europe," he said.

The highest overall ratings for the U.S.-Belgium game came in New York, Nielsen said.

ESPN said that overall viewership for the World Cup is up 44 percent over 2010.

Prison Bitch · 07-03-2014, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Its KU basketball fans around these parts that generally think NBA basketball sucks.

Is there any evidence that KSU or Mizzou (or the other Big 12 regional fans here in KC) like the NBA better than college hoops? I'd like to see your evidence.

As for World Cup vs NBA, Kansas City is the #31 media market in the USA. We were 16th for the Ghana game (7.4 rating) and 47th for Game 5 of the NBA (8.3 rating):
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/wor...iewership.html

Xanathol · 07-03-2014, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Something tells me you couldn't run full speed while dribbling a soccer ball.

Soccer takes a ton of skill. You just don't have any of it so you choose to be demeaning. It's ok. We get it.

Step 1 - run after ball.
Step 2 - run into ball.
Step 3 - repeat.

Yeah, real ****ing hard. Or do you mean the part where they aren't running but doing the Ace Ventura shuffle?

Obviously Jim Carey is just an athlete beyond the likes any have seen in American sports...

ThaVirus · 07-03-2014, 03:34 PM

I guess that's kind of like being an NFL QB.

Step 1 - Hold ball in hands
Step 2 - Throw ball
Step 3 - Repeat

Or

Step 1 - Hold ball
Step 2 - Hand ball off
Step 3 - Repeat

Yeah, real ****ing hard!

Kansas City Kid · 07-03-2014, 04:01 PM

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer...200716885.html

Just another reason to hate soccer.

Pitt Gorilla · 07-03-2014, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bambi

Just like the nfl is far superior to the CFB. Obviously professionals are better.

Agree completely.

GloryDayz · 07-03-2014, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kansas City Kid

Soccer is the #1 sport among mongoloids and gays.

You ****!

Dayze · 07-03-2014, 07:12 PM

i might also be because the NBA playoffs are 6 months long.

Deberg_1990 · 07-03-2014, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Soccer is going to blow up in the US!/ Says someone every year for the last 20 years.

Pro Soccer was completely dead in the US prior to 1994. Dead. Think how far its come in 20 years.

Well, unless you count an over the hill Pele in the late 70s or the MISL.? Kansas City Comets represent!

GloryDayz · 07-03-2014, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dayze

i might also be because the NBA playoffs are 6 months long.

Six months??? You must have missed the first few rounds!

Dayze · 07-03-2014, 08:02 PM

cosmo20002 · 07-03-2014, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cochise

NEW YORK -- An estimated 21.6 million people watched Belgium knock out the United States in the World Cup on U.S. television -- an impressive total for a weekday afternoon that almost certainly undercounts how many people actually saw it.

The just-concluded NBA Finals where the San Antonio Spurs beat the Miami Heat averaged 15.5 million viewers, with 18 million watching the final game.

"Home" populations:

Miami - 5M+
San Antonio - 2M+ vs. United States - 320M

Just sayin...

philfree · 07-03-2014, 09:00 PM

I didn't watch either event. They both suck.

cosmo20002 · 07-03-2014, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xanathol

Of course it is - it takes slightly more athletic ability than golf or running. There is no need for the strength & explosiveness of football or the skill and quick twitch of baseball. Even the most desolate country of weak, uncoordinated metrosexuals can field a team. It is the same reason it is the 'participation trophy sport' of today's youth; when your kid sucks at football, baseball, and every other real sport, there's always soccer.

Not really a soccer fan, but this is stupid.

**DaFace** · 07-03-2014, 09:26 PM

The World Cup is like the Olympics to me. I might catch a soccer game here and there normally, but I always try and at least pay attention to it since it is the biggest international competition there is for the sport.

GloryDayz · 07-03-2014, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

The World Cup is like the Olympics to me. I might catch a soccer game here and there normally, but I always try and at least pay attention to it since it is the biggest international competition there is for the sport.

I record everything I can, I love it. Then again, part of my life was in Rome, and one mile from the stadium. So I get all the arguments, I just know it's awesome. Some changes are needed, but I'm still a huge fan...

And yes, the FIFA WC is much like the Olympics...

07-03-2014, 04:15 AM
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	U.S. soccer ratings top NBA Finals NEW YORK -- An estimated 21.6 million people watched Belgium knock out the United States in the World Cup on U.S. television -- an impressive total for a weekday afternoon that almost certainly undercounts how many people actually saw it. The Nielsen company said Wednesday that 16.5 million people watched the game on ESPN, with 5.1 million more seeing it on the Spanish-language Univision network. In addition, nearly 1.7 million people watched an online stream of the event, Nielsen said. The record U.S. television audience for soccer is the 24.7 million who saw the United States play Portugal on June 24, which tied the 2010 World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands. The Portugal game took place on a weekend, however, when there were more people with free time available to watch. The U.S.-Belgium game started at 4 p.m. on the East Coast, earlier in other time zones, during a working day. Nielsen does not measure viewership in bars, offices or other public places. In 2010, ESPN estimated that the stated audience size for weekday World Cup games would increase by 23 percent if public viewing were taken into account. Still, Tuesday's knockout game exceeded the average viewership for the most recent World Series and NBA Finals, events that took place during prime-time when more people were home to watch. The just-concluded NBA Finals where the San Antonio Spurs beat the Miami Heat averaged 15.5 million viewers, with 18 million watching the final game. Last fall's World Series averaged 14.9 million viewers, with 19.2 million watching the Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the last game. U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said on Wednesday that everyone connected with the soccer team is excited to see how the sport is reaching a U.S. audience. He could see it coming, given the popularity of the game among young people and the large crowds that turned out for the team's sendoff games before the World Cup. "Soccer is breaking through and gets its deserved recognition without taking anything away from the other big American sports," Klinsmann said. He said it's important for people to identify with the way Americans played the game. "The energy and the commitment and the tempo and the aggressiveness that we played with kind of made people proud at home and surprised a lot of people outside of the United States, maybe in Brazil or in Europe," he said. The highest overall ratings for the U.S.-Belgium game came in New York, Nielsen said. ESPN said that overall viewership for the World Cup is up 44 percent over 2010.
Posts: 80,659

07-03-2014, 03:34 PM	#138
ThaVirus Settle this once and forever Join Date: Sep 2007 Casino cash: $2102369	I guess that's kind of like being an NFL QB. Step 1 - Hold ball in hands Step 2 - Throw ball Step 3 - Repeat Or Step 1 - Hold ball Step 2 - Hand ball off Step 3 - Repeat Yeah, real ****ing hard!
Posts: 44,237

07-03-2014, 04:01 PM	#139
Kansas City Kid Banned Join Date: May 2014 Casino cash: $10004900	http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/soccer...200716885.html Just another reason to hate soccer.
Posts: 232

07-03-2014, 07:12 PM	#142
Dayze Resident Glue Sniffer Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $5199358	i might also be because the NBA playoffs are 6 months long. __________________ Life is 99% inspiration, 1% Perspiration, and 1% Attention to Detial. RIP & Godspeed: Saccoppo Lonewolf Ed Fire Me Boy
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07-03-2014, 08:02 PM	#145
Dayze Resident Glue Sniffer Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $5199358	__________________ Life is 99% inspiration, 1% Perspiration, and 1% Attention to Detial. RIP & Godspeed: Saccoppo Lonewolf Ed Fire Me Boy
Posts: 37,358

07-03-2014, 09:00 PM	#147
philfree Indian Twitter Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Free Agency Casino cash: $1666198	I didn't watch either event. They both suck. __________________ [/SIGPIC]
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07-03-2014, 09:26 PM	#149
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $2046899	The World Cup is like the Olympics to me. I might catch a soccer game here and there normally, but I always try and at least pay attention to it since it is the biggest international competition there is for the sport.
Posts: 51,751