One of England’s best World Cup performances in modern history is on track to become the highest-rated telecast in U.S. Spanish-language TV history.
England’s heroic 3-2 win over Mexico in the Estadio Azteca, which saw the Three Lions hold on for nearly half an hour after they went down to 10 men, has drawn a preliminary audience of 23.1M on Telemundo.
This puts it on track to become the highest total audience for a soccer match in U.S. Spanish-language media history — ahead of Mexico’s win over Ecuador last week, which scored a total audience of 18.9M.
This number includes streaming figures – the game streamed on Telemundo’s sister streamer Peacock – but the linear figure is even more impressive. The network saw a total linear audience of 9.4M in the P2+ demo across its three-hour telecast, which per Telemundo, is on track to become the highest-rated telecast in Spanish-language TV history, above the 8.7M who watched the Ecuador game.
The NBCUniversal-owned company also said that it recorded 13M preliminary average-minute audience, which puts it on track to become the most-streamed soccer match in U.S. Spanish-language media history.
It was a tough start for both teams and the broadcaster after the game was delayed by thunderstorms.
However, once things got going, it turned into a World Cup, and ratings, classic.
England went ahead in the first half with two goals from Jude Bellingham, before Julián Quiñones pulled one back for the co-hosts before the break. Five minutes after right back Jarrell Quansah was sent off for a clumsy challenge, winger Anthony Gordon burst through on goal and the Mexican goalkeeper brought him down for a penalty that captain Harry Kane scored. Things got tense after Raul Jiménez scored a penalty after Kane conceded a penalty at the other end and the home team had all the possession.
England’s Dan Burn of England blocks a bicycle kick from Raúl Jiménez of México
Cesar Gomez/Jam Media/Getty Images
Telemundo has had a great few weeks with the World Cup with Mexico’s game against Korea also scoring big in the ratings with 7.2M total viewers.
Joaquín Duro, EVP Sports and head of streaming at NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises,recently told Deadline: “We’ve created this way of producing games that is getting people excited, regardless of who plays. The pitches are amazing. The stadiums are filled. It’s just like a movie.”
