FOX’s live coverage of the FA Cup third round match between West Ham United and Manchester United on Saturday, January 5 2013 posted a 0.6/1 household rating/share with a viewing audience of 887,000.
The match was televised live on the free-to-air FOX network across the United States. Out of all of the metered markets that showed the thrilling 2-2 draw nationwide, Greenville (South Carolina) had the best local rating with a 1.3/3 followed by Kansas City and Columbus with a 1.2/3 each.
The broadcast of West Ham-Manchester United was the first time an English FA Cup game had ever been shown live on US free-to-air television. The next scheduled FA Cup to be shown on the free-to-air FOX network is the May 11 FA Cup Final. Meanwhile, matches from the three round replays through to the semi-final will be shown on FOX Soccer.
In comparison, the 2012 MLS Cup — the preeminent game in US club soccer — was watched by 797,000 viewers on ESPN in October, 2012.
