According to the Concacaf site, Gold Cup draws high TV ratings in USA. Weren't most live games on closed circuit last time? I just don't recall, but, if so, I suppose that would explain the ratings increases. If not, any thoughts? Any implications for SUM?
Only numbers I could find (up until 2003) prove it is probably alot closer than I thought. But I still think the Super Bowl had to beat 2.7M hispanic adults 18-49. Super Bowl Ratings Among Hispanics (2003-1999, decending) Super Bowl Rating Share Avg. Number Of Homes (000) Avg. Number Of Viewers (000) XXXVII 29.7 2,893,660 49 6,051,157 XXXVI 23.0 2,344,094 39 4,537,594 XXXV 26.9 2,402,996 43 4,525,933 XXXIV 27.5 2,385,223 44 4,801,505 XXXIII 27.5 2,274,416 46 4,725,013 Source: Nielsen Hispanic Television Index Thx, Jay!
Per today's LAT sports section "what LA is watching" or somesuch, most of the GC matches were yawned at in LA; the Mexico/Guatemala match being a huge exception. South Africa/Jamaica also did pretty well. US matches aren't doing that well. I understand there are political issues and Concacaf owns the games and k'ed with whoever to show them in Spanish only, but next time around, USSoccer or Fox or SOMEONE has to get involved to ensure the games are shown in English and properly promoted. Not running MLS matches in direct conflict would also be nice, but I've been banging that drum for a while and getting nowhere. Of course, US vs. Costa Rica in Spanish is also a tough sell when it conflicts with baseball's All-Star game. I am laboring under the assumption that everyone involved in soccer in the US wants soccer to be watched and attended more in the US. Perhaps that is fanciful.
I may be dead wrong, but I swear I recall recent editions of the Gold Cup being all or mostly on closed circuit TV, with only tape-delay broadcasts a few days later. At least having all the games on live TV, even if only in Spanish, is a step forward. Given SUM's involvement now with the Gold Cup, I suspect we'll see efforts to raise this tourney's profile. Btw, here are the numbers for Houston of the Mexico v Jamaica game that was played here (emphases added): Mexico soccer telecasts a gold mine for Ch. 45, David Barron, Houston Chronicle
Did anyone here use it? I wonder if they just attempted to translate Ramirez, which would probably be something of a challenge. Of course, if you just make sure to use lots of exclamation points, you'd probably get most of what he's saying.
I have it on now for the US-Jam game. Alot of the translation is straight word-for-word what they are saying. So it looks funny sometimes to read what they type. Thx, Jay!
Haven't seen the national numbers, but here's how the Mexico x Colombia game did in Houston at least: TV/ Radio Notebook, Houston Chronicle