The 2010 World Cup Final set viewership records on ABC and ESPN, which broadcast all matches in HiDef, and proved a global success for companies involved with the first-ever 3D telecasts live in theaters, such as Sensio and Cinedigm.
Spain’s victory over the Netherlands in the Final on ABC was the most-watched Men’s World Cup game ever with an 8.1 household rating and 15,545,000 viewers for the two-hour game window (2:30-5 p.m. ET). The U.S.-Ghana match on June 26 that eliminated the U.S. drew the most households all-time with 9,455,000, and second most viewers with 14,863,000.
In 64 matches, the ESPN networks (ESPN/ESPN2/ABC) averaged a 2.1 U.S. household rating (up 31% from 2006), and 3,261,000 viewers (up 41%).
Through the semifinals last week (62 matches), an estimated 105 million people tuned into ABC, ESPN, or ESPN2 during the 2010 World Cup, a 17% increase from the 90 million people who tuned into the World Cup on the three networks through the same point in 2006.
Figures for the ESPN 3D broadcast are not available.
“The 2010 FIFA World Cup was an overwhelming success for ESPN,” said John Skipper, ESPN executive vice president, content. “We experienced record viewership across multiple platforms, including television, broadband, online and ESPN Audio…”
Meanwhile, Cinedigm Digital Cinema Corp. carried the Final to select Cinedigm Certified theatres around the United States and Canada for the first-ever cinematic live 3D broadcast of the world’s most popular sporting event final. Close to 50& of locations sold out multiple screens and all saw per-customer grosses, according to the distributor.
Sensio Technologies Inc.‘s 3D technology enabled soccer fans all over the world to view 25 FIFA World Cup matches live, in 3D at more than 4,500 theatrical screenings in 475 cinemas in 33 countries during the 30 days of the championship.
“The global delivery aspect of this worldwide event from South Africa is unlike anything else in its scope,” said Sensio president and CEO Nicholas Routhier. “It’s testimony to the great working relationship we have with our partners, IDC, Cinedigm and Eutelsat…”
“The success of the 2010 FIFA World Cup proves that live 3D events constitute a worthwhile market and, through the (new Sensio 3D Live Global Network web)site, event-producers and their distribution networks can reach audiences on a global scale,” said Richard LaBerge, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer.”
— By Scott Hettrick