Soccer: World Cup ratings soar to new heights

It is doubtful any other event in history attracted as many television viewers as this year's soccer world Cup in South Korea and Japan and ratings for the quadrennial tournament have soared to new heights around the world.

The ratings have been spectacular from the first kickoff on May 31, when an estimated 500 million people of the planet's six billion population watched Senegal beat titleholders France 1-0.

Everywhere between Norway to South Africa and from Asia to the Americas, television sets seem to be tuned into one programme: games involving 22 men chasing a small white ball on bright green fields.

"The ratings have been simply fantastic," said Fritz Pleitgen, head of Germany' ARD network that drew a record 88 percent market share for the Germany-Paraguay match.

"Nothing comes close to capturing peoples attention like the World Cup. That interest is so high despite the early hours surprised us."

Fears the tournament in Asia would be a ratings flop in Europe, where matches are broadcast in non-prime time early morning and midday hours, and in the Americas, where they're aired after midnight, have turned out to be unfounded.

Another concern that expensive battles for broadcast rights and a sharp reduction in the number of matches shown in some countries would stifle viewer interest also proved unfounded; in fact, it may have had the opposite effect.

Even in the United States, long considered a "black hole" for soccer on television, ratings have soared as their underdog team have unexpectedly advanced to the quarterfinals.

Theories abound about why this World Cup has been more popular than ever among viewers, why city streets are becoming empty and work grinds to a virtual halt when matches start.

Some observers have cited the tight matches and abundance of upsets, where small countries have knocked out soccer powers such as Argentina, France, Italy and Portugal.

The growth of the game and vast improvements in many Asian and African countries may be another factor making it a truly worldwide spectacle.

Others have suggested that aside from the spreading popularity of soccer, the unstoppable broader economic trend of globalisation has, for good or bad, brought nations closer together and the World Cup is seen as a tip on that iceberg.

Brazil's TV titan Globo is scoring record ratings despite unsociable hours. For Brazil's match against Turkey at 0600 (Brazilian time), Globo's rating was a record market share of 94 percent. Monday's match against Belgium had an a 89 percent share. Both far surpassed records set in 1989 by a popular soap opera.

"We always had faith in cup broadcasts even at these times," Globo spokesman Luis Erlanger said.

"The Brazilian loves football, loves his team and the World Cup is the grand moment."

Italy ground to a virtual halt for matches as people crowded office and bar televisions. Some 23 million people watched Italy play Mexico, a record audience share of 90 percent for state broadcaster RAI.

In Britain, the BBC said last Saturday's 3-0 win over Denmark was watched by the second-largest television audience for 10 years, trailing only the funeral of Princess Diana in 1997.

Almost half of the 60,000 pubs extended hours so the public could enjoy a pint for breakfast with football. Last weekend pubs made an extra $US100 million ($NZ207 million) as fans drank 20 million more pints of beer than usual.

England's win against Denmark attracted the biggest Saturday lunchtime audience for five years - 16.8 million, not including those watching in pubs or workplaces.

In Ireland, the country effectively shut down for all four of their matches. Pubs were jammed as huge crowds followed the team's Cinderella ride into the elimination round.

Irish state broadcaster RTE said 943,000 people watched Ireland's last match against Spain - a quarter of the population, although a RTE spokesman said the actual figure was probably far higher as the data did not include the many thousands in pubs.

Japanese have been enthralled by their team's performance. Japan's match against Russia was watched by 66.1 percent of the audience in the Kanto region, the nation's most populous area.

That fell just short of the most-watched sporting event in Japan's history - a volleyball final against the Soviet Union at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 which was watched by 66.8 percent.

In Israel, soccer fever was high even without a team.

"Israelis are showing enthusiasm for the World Cup," Orna Landau, TV correspondent for Israel's daily Yedioth Aharonoth.

In Cairo, work slowed down when matches were on.

"We are not really watching the stock market today," said one trader at a large Cairo bank. "Everyone is watching soccer."

In Austria, which also didn't qualify, ratings are high too.

"For the time of day they're playing, the market share has been sensational," ORF spokesman Christian Huber said. The matches have drawn audiences of up to 70 percent market share.

In Spain, soccer fans have been disappointed by the fact full coverage of the action is only available through Via Digital, a satellite channel only 500,000 Spaniards receive.

About 15 percent of games are broadcast on terrestrial television. Sunday's dramatic clash with Ireland drew 13.2 million viewers and audience share of nearly 90 percent.

Schools have resorted to showing games in class to prevent pupils skipping off to local shopping centres when Spain play.

- REUTERS

nzherald.co.nz/fifaworldcup

Groups and team lists
Stars
Schedule
Points tables
Previous winners and key statistics

Interactive graphics:
Groups and team profiles