• Loading stock data...
Sunday, December 1, 2024

World Cup Final Draws Record Viewership in France

  • France’s leading broadcaster TF1 averaged a record 24.1 million viewers.
  • The game peaked at 29.4 million viewers.
Argentina players celebrate after wining the World Cup final
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

This year’s World Cup final is being called the best ever, and some television networks would likely agree.

France’s leading broadcaster TF1 averaged a record 24.1 million viewers when Argentina defeated France on Sunday, with a peak of 29.4 million and a market share of 81%.

  • France’s 2018 World Cup final win over Croatia averaged just 19.3 million, peaking at 22.3 million.
  • The last record in France was the country’s 2006 World Cup semifinal against Portugal, which averaged 22.2 million viewers.
  • It was the first edition for which audience measurement firm Médiamétrie counted out-of-home-viewing.

BeIN Sports also broadcast the game in the country but hasn’t released figures.

The game was the third-most-watched Qatar World Cup match in the U.K. BBC One reportedly peaked at 14.9 million, while ITV One peaked at 4.4 million. The channels averaged at a respective 9.1 million and 2.7 million viewers.

England’s quarterfinal loss to France was the U.K.’s most-watched match of the tournament and of the year across U.K. TV.

In India, 32 million viewers tuned in on JioCinema.

Red, White, and Les Bleus

Fox Sports hasn’t released its figures for viewership in the U.S. yet, but it has high expectations.

Argentina’s semifinal win over Croatia on Dec. 13 brought in 6.47 million viewers — making it the most-watched World Cup semifinal on English-language TV.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Oct 1, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum (10) drives past New York Liberty forwards Kayla Thornton (5) and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (44) during game two of the 2024 WNBA Semi-finals at Barclays Center.

Kelsey Plum Backs Out of Unrivaled

She’s skipping the new league’s season, along with Caitlin Clark.
Nov 26, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Oregon Ducks guard Keeshawn Barthelemy (9) approaches Texas A&M Aggies guard CJ Wilcher (10) during the first half at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory

Is This $9 Million Basketball Tournament the ‘Future of College Sports’?

NIL opportunities for players are scheduled throughout the six-day tournament.

Bears $4.7B Dome Plan Takes Hit After Deal With Chicago Suburb

The Bears and Arlington Heights resolved a longstanding tax dispute.

Rays Facing Schedule Shake-Up, Outdoor Adjustments, Political Drama

The schedule shifts look to address the vagaries of Florida’s summer weather.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

Happy Thanksgiving From FOS Today

0:00

Featured Today

U.S. Investors Are Gunning for England’s Small Soccer Clubs

Is another Hollywood-like success story possible among the U.K.’s smallest clubs?
Nov 1, 2024; Boise, Idaho, USA; Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty (2) leads the team onto the field prior to the first quarter against the San Diego State Aztecs at Albertsons Stadium.
November 29, 2024

Schools Are Scrambling to Prepare for the NCAA Revenue-Sharing Era

In the post–House v. NCAA world, “everyone’s kind of on their own.”
Nov 4, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Recording artist Taylor Swift arrives prior to a game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
November 29, 2024

The PWHL Could Be Inviting a Date With Taylor Swift’s Legal Team

The Toronto Sceptres may have opened a Pandora’s box of trademark issues.
November 23, 2024

Can an Elite Women’s Soccer School Survive the New College Sports Moneyball?

Santa Clara faces an uphill battle in the new college sports landscape.
Bluesky and Twitter

Why Bluesky Is Not a Serious Threat to Sports Twitter

Bluesky recently hit 23 million total users. That doesn’t touch X/Twitter.
November 26, 2024

NBA Passes on Thanksgiving Games, Eyes Black Friday Spotlight

The NBA hasn’t played on Thanksgiving since 2010.
May 1, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; From left: TNT analysts Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford, play-by-play announcer Kevin Harland and reporter Allie LaForce during game five of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena.
November 27, 2024

WBD Target of Investor Lawsuit Over Loss of NBA Rights

WBD sued the NBA in July after failing to retain broadcast rights.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
November 25, 2024

Lions Could Turn Tables by Eclipsing Cowboys Ratings on Thanksgiving

The Cowboys and Lions play again on Thanksgiving—in very different positions.
Oct 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Thursday Night Football broadcasters Clarissa Thompson, Tony Gonzalez, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Andrew Whitworth and Richard Sherman at SoFi Stadium.
November 25, 2024

Amazon Finds NFL Silver Linings Despite Missing Out on Thanksgiving

The streamer is drawing its best NFL ratings yet.
November 23, 2024

Reader Mailbag: Why Are NBA Ratings Down to Start the Season?

NBA viewership is down 28% on ESPN through the first four weeks.
November 22, 2024

DirecTV-Dish Deal Is Dead, Spelling More Trouble for Pay TV

Bondholder objections undo an agreement to create the largest U.S. pay-TV distributor.