ESPN presentation of the UEFA EURO 2012 semifinal matches on Wednesday and Thursday was seen by an average of 1.907 million viewers, an increase of 46 percent compared to the two semifinals watched by 1.307 million viewers in 2008. The weekday afternoon telecasts delivered an average of 1.457 million television households, up 46 percent versus 995,000 households in 2008.
Wednesday’s semifinal match between Spain and Portugal, a 0-0 tie won by Spain 4-2 in a penalty shootout, delivered ESPN’s largest audience ever in the semifinals of the European Football Championship – 1.475 million households and 1.952 million viewers, based on a 0.7 US rating.
Through 30 matches (group stage, quarterfinals and semifinals) of the UEFA EURO 2012, ESPN’s live English-language presentation is averaging 932,000 households and 1,202,000 viewers -- up 60 percent and 61 percent, respectively, versus the same 30 matches in 2008 (582,000 households and 745,000 viewers).
The top 10 metered markets through the group stage include: New York (2.0), Miami-Ft. Lauderdale (1.9), Providence (1.6), Los Angeles (1.4), Washington, DC (1.4), San Francisco (1.3), Las Vegas (1.3), Richmond, Va. (1.2), Atlanta (1.2), and Austin, Texas (1.2)
ESPN Deportes
The Euro semifinals delivered strong ratings for the Spanish-language network, averaging a 7.0 Hispanic household coverage rating (up 79 percent compared to 2008) with 380,000 Hispanic households and 586,000 viewers – up 176 percent and 250 percent compared to 2008, respectively.
The dramatic match between Spain and Portugal averaged a 7.6 Hispanic household coverage rating with 414,000 Hispanic households and 650,000 viewers, making it the third highest-rated and most watched telecast on ESPN Deportes thus far this year. Italy vs. Germany delivered a 6.3 Hispanic household coverage rating with 340,000 Hispanic households and 510,000 viewers.
ESPN Digital Platforms:
For the EURO 2012 semifinals on June 27-28, ESPNFC.com and ESPNsoccernet.com globally averaged 1 million daily visitors, 3.6 million page views per day and 12.2 million minutes per day (source: Adobe/Omniture). Compared to ESPNsoccernet.com during the semifinals for EURO 2008, the site is up 24 percent, 24 percent and 126 percent, respectively. In total, EURO 2012 coverage on ESPNFC.com, ESPNsoccernet.com and ESPNdeportes.com generated 7.9 million total page views during the two days of semifinals play, up 29 percent compared to EURO 2008.
Mobile coverage to the two days across ESPNFC, ESPNsoccernet and ESPNdeportes mobile Web sites as well as the ESPNsoccernet app for iPhone and Android logged an average of 1.8 million page views per day, up 891 percent compared to EURO 2008.
The semifinals across computers, smartphones, tablets and Xbox on ESPN3 and WatchESPN logged an average minute audience of 222,000 and an average of 575,700 unique viewers per match. Additionally, fans consumed 74.9 million live minutes to both English and Spanish language feeds across platforms, up 798 percent compared to the EURO 2008 semifinals on computers.
The semifinals logged the two most-watched matches of the tournament thus far on ESPN3 and WatchESPN. Portugal vs. Spain came out on top, logging 598,000 unique viewers, 43 million live minutes and an average minute audience of 231,000. Germany vs. Italy followed with 553,000 unique viewers, 32 million live minutes and an average minute audience of 212,700.
Through the semifinals of EURO 2012, the tournament on computers has logged a total of 2.6 million unique viewers. Additionally, it has generated 419.7 million live minutes across platforms, up 804 percent compared to EURO 2008 on computers.
UEFA EURO 2012 Final on ESPN Networks
ESPN’s comprehensive presentation of UEFA European Football Championship 2012 in English and Spanish will conclude Sunday, July 1, with the title match between defending champion Spain and Italy live from Olympic Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3, ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes Radio. Coverage will begin at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN Deportes with a 90-minute pregame special, while ESPN will begin coverage at 2 p.m. with a 30-minute pregame special.
