FIFA reveals record-breaking TV figures for Brazil 2014

According to the Federation, the opening matches set new audience highs across the world as fans watched in record numbers in nations such as Brazil, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Argentina, France, the Netherlands, Croatia and Italy. An all-time high was set in the French-speaking part of Belgium.The viewing figures also revealed an impressive increase […]

According to the Federation, the opening matches set new audience highs across the world as fans watched in record numbers in nations such as Brazil, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Argentina, France, the Netherlands, Croatia and Italy. An all-time high was set in the French-speaking part of Belgium.
The viewing figures also revealed an impressive increase in USA, Canada and Australia, where the World Cup is helping to drive interest in the game to new levels.
Niclas Ericson, Director of FIFA TV said that 42.9 million people watched Brazil and Croatia on Brazilian channel TV Globo, the highest sports broadcast of 2014; 14.2 million watched England and Italy’s opener on BBC1 in the UK and 12.8 million on RAI 1, the highest TV audiences in both countries in 2014; while 34.1 million watched Japan play Ivory Coast on NHK, twice the size of next biggest sports broadcast of 2014.
He also informed that Germany’s win over Portugal attracted 26.4 million on ARD in Germany, the biggest 2014 TV sports audience, while the match between the USA and Ghana was watched by 11.1 million on ESPN in the United States, setting a new record for ESPN coverage of a men’s FIFA World Cup match.
“These record-breaking figures show just how popular football and the FIFA World Cup are across the world, from Japan to Argentina. We are seeing highly encouraging growth in interest in markets such as the United States and Australia.
“The FIFA broadcast production of all World Cup matches makes this competition truly global and accessible for fans all over the world. It therefore plays a crucial role in supporting FIFA’s core mission to develop football everywhere and for all.”
The director added: “These record-breaking figures show just how popular football and the World Cup is across the world, from Japan to Argentina.” We are seeing highly encouraging growth in interest in markets such as the United States and Australia.”