ESPN Grows FIFA Women’s World Cup Audience

U.S. - Colombia: Most-Watched FIFA Women’s World Cup Match Since 1999

Rating for 16 Matches on ESPN Networks up 100% vs. 2007 in China

The FIFA Women’s World Cup match between the U.S. Women’s National Team and Colombia – a 3-0 U.S. victory in Sinsheim, Germany, on Saturday, July 2 – was seen by 1.87 million people, based on a 1.4 coverage rating on ESPN (1.38 million household impressions), making it the most-watched Women’s World Cup match since 1999.

Through Sunday, July 3 (16 matches), the 2011 Women’s World Cup is averaging a 0.4 rating on ESPN and ESPN2 – up 100% from 2007 (0.2).  Household impressions are up 112% (from 239,000 to 507,000) and P2+ impressions are up 150% (from 255,000 to 637,000).

Greensboro-High Point, N.C., was the top market for Saturday’s US Women’s National Team match, delivering a 2.7 rating.  Rounding out the top five were Baltimore (2.6), Norfolk, Va., (2.4), Portland, Ore., (2.3), and San Diego (2.2).

Through 16 matches, the top five local markets for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup are: Greensboro-High Point (1.5), San Diego (1.3), Raleigh-Durham, N.C., (1.2), Portland (1.1) and Albuquerque, N.M. (1.1).

Women’s World Cup Quarterfinals Saturday and Sunday

The 2011 FIFA World Cup in Germany continues on ESPN and ESPN3.com with two quarterfinal matches each day on Saturday, July 9, and Sunday, July 10.  Highlights include the No. 1-ranked U.S. women’s team, coming off its first ever loss in the group stage of a World Cup vs. Sweden, versus No. 3 Brazil, led by five-time FIFA Women’s Player of the Year Marta, on Sunday at 11 a.m. ET, live from Dresden.  Also, defending champion and No. 2-ranked Germany vs. Japan, live from Wolfsburg, on Saturday at 2:15 p.m. The weekend schedule:

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