TV viewing audiences for ESPN’s coverage of Euro 2016 are greater so far than FOX Sports’ numbers for Copa America Centenario. That’s based on the reported ratings data that’s available for the first 7 games of the tournament on cable/satellite.
For ESPN’s first seven Euro 2016 games, the network’s viewing average is 872,857 per match (6 games on ESPN, 1 game on ESPN2). In comparison to the first seven Copa America Centenario games shown on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2 (6 games on FS1, 1 on FS2), FOX Sports is averaging 816,857 viewers per match.
Note that viewing data for FOX broadcasting company’s Costa Rica-Paraguay (June 4) and Jamaica-Venezuela (June 5) has not publicly been made available. FOX Sports’ spokesperson did not respond to World Soccer Talk’s request for viewing numbers.
SEE MORE: Review of FOX Sports’ coverage of Copa America Centenario
The ratings data for FOX Sports’ first 7 games on FS1 and FS2 includes two USA games (versus Colombia and Costa Rica) as well as high-profile matches involving teams including Mexico and Brazil.
For the Copa America Centenario to date (from June 3-12), FOX Sports is averaging 763,188 viewers per game across FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2.
Given that ESPN is currently ahead of FOX Sports in the average number of viewers per game, FOX Sports’ numbers are disappointing when you consider that the games are being shown in primetime. Plus, Copa America Centenario features the US Men’s National Team (as well as Mexico). Part of the reason for FOX Sports’ disappointing numbers is due to Univision crushing the Spanish-language ratings for Copa America (many games are on the free-to-air Univision broadcasting network). Viewing numbers for ESPN Deportes’ Spanish-language coverage of Euro 2016 have not been made available.
SEE MORE: Review of ESPN’s coverage of Euro 2016
Still, there are plenty of games remaining in Copa America Centenario for FOX to improve its numbers. At the same time, ESPN’s coverage of Euro 2016 features several countries that may not be able to attract as large of a viewing audience (Iceland, Wales, Hungary, Albania, etc), so ESPN’s ratings may drop over time.
ESPN is in 89 million homes, while FOX Sports 1 is in 83 million homes.
Here’s the English-language viewing figures for Copa America on FOX Sports vs. Euro 2016 on ESPN:
COPA AMERICA | EURO 2016 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Teams | Channel | Viewing avg. | Teams | Channel | Viewing avg. | ||
Game 1 | USA vs. Colombia | FS1 | 1,536,000 | France vs. Romania | ESPN2 | 662,000 | |
Game 2 | Costa Rica vs. Paraguay | FOX | Not available | Albania vs. Switzerland | ESPN | 651,000 | |
Game 3 | Haiti vs. Peru | FS2 | 138,000 | Wales vs. Slovakia | ESPN | 859,000 | |
Game 4 | Brazil vs. Ecuador | FS1 | 598,000 | England vs. Russia | ESPN | 1,200,000 | |
Game 5 | Jamaica vs. Venezuela | FOX | Not available | Croatia vs. Turkey | ESPN | 635,000 | |
Game 6 | Mexico vs. Uruguay | FS1 | 619,000 | Poland vs. N. Ireland | ESPN | 935,000 | |
Game 7 | Panama vs. Bolivia | FS1 | 365,000 | Germany vs. Ukraine | ESPN | 1,168,000 | |
Game 8 | Argentina vs. Chile | FS1 | 862,000 | Spain vs. Czech Republic | ESPN | Not available | |
Game 9 | USA vs. Costa Rica | FS1 | 1,600,000 | Ireland vs. Sweden | ESPN | Not available |
SEE MORE: Schedule of Copa America and Euro 2016 games combined into one TV guide
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