ESPN Deportes netted the highest-rated and most-watched telecast in network history with its presentation of the UEFA Euro 2012 final.
ESPN's Spanish-language service averaged a 12.9 Hispanic household coverage rating, 699,000 households and 1.13 million viewers with its July 1 telecast of Spain's 4-0 win over Italy, according to Nielsen data, The championship match was up 28% from the 10.1 mark ESPN Deportes recorded with Spain's 1-0 win over Germany in the 2008 Euro final. ESPN's English-language coverage of the title game drew 4.07 million viewers, the most for a Euro event in U.S. history.
All told, just under 2.2 million Latinos watched at least some part of the match, which made Spain the first side to win three consecutive major titles -- La Furia Roja's Euro triumphs bookended its 2010 FIFA World Cup triumph in South Africa.
The quadrennial futbol event lifted ESPN Deportes to its highest-rated and most-watched month to date in June. The network averaged a 0.9 Hispanic household coverage rating, 46,000 households and 62,000 viewers last month, according to Nielsen. Those marks surpassed ESPN Deportes' previous marks in March 2009, when the service scored a 0.8 Hispanic rating, 35,000 households and 48,000 viewers.
The 27 live Euro matches that aired on ESPN Deportes, averaged a 4.2 Hispanic rating, 220,000 Hispanic households impressions and 324,000 viewers, improvements of 50%, 120% and 138%, respectively, from the 2.8, 100,000 households and 136,000 watchers over 26 telecasts with the 2008 event.
In addition to the title tilt, ESPN Deportes scored especially well with the June 24 England-Italy quarterfinal that delivered an 8.1 rating, 424,000 households and 619,000 viewers, as well as the June 27 Iberian semifinal between Spain and Portugal, which generated a 7.6 Hispanic rating, 414,000 homes and 650,000. Those telecasts now rank eighth and ninth, respectively, in the network's Nielsen pantheon.
Through the tournament, some 5.25 million people tuned in live coverage of Euro 2012 tournament on ESPN Deportes, 24% amelioration from the 4.24 million people who tuned into the live action from Euro 2008.
"We are very proud of the successful coverage of the UEFA Euro 2012 on ESPN Deportes," said Lino Garcia, general manager of ESPN Deportes, in a statement. "We experienced record viewership through the tournament which underscores the value of sports in the Hispanic market, and reinforces our commitment to serving fans with content they want to consume."
