The World Cup has seen a significant surge in viewership in the US as the knockout rounds commence. Fox Sports, the English-language television broadcaster, and Telemundo, the Spanish-language broadcaster, have both broken viewership records during the group stage.
Record-Breaking Viewership
Telemundo reported that its World Cup viewership is pacing at more than double the 2022 tournament in Qatar, with audience engagement at historic highs. Fox Sports stated that 84 million Americans have watched at least some of its coverage through June 25, according to Nielsen’s TV and streaming measurement system.
The high viewership can be attributed to the fact that the games are being played in the US, Canada, and Mexico, raising Americans’ overall awareness and placing matches in more favorable TV windows. Additionally, soccer continues to grow in popularity in the US, and sporting events continue to compel people to watch live rather than on demand.
Nielsen is also measuring out-of-home audiences more extensively than in the past, lifting the ratings for many sports. Television executives believe that these viewers have always been watching at bars, restaurants, and other locations, so the ratings now more accurately reflect the real audience size.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
