World Cup Viewership Sets U.S. Records With Americans Out
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The first two World Cup quarterfinals averaged more than 5 million U.S. television viewers, with Brazil’s defeat of Colombia setting a record for American viewership of that stage of the tournament.
Germany’s 1-0 win over France, which began at noon New York time yesterday, was seen in an average of 2.9 percent of U.S. homes, or 4.9 million viewers, Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN sports channel said on its website. The second game, in which tournament host Brazil beat Colombia 2-1, drew a 3.6 rating and 6.3 million viewers. That topped a previous record for a quarterfinal of 5.7 million people who watched Argentina and Germany play in South Africa in July 2010.