World Cup games help boost ratings

By Associated Press

LOS ANGELES -- The World Cup has helped boost television ratings for Univision Communications Inc., with some matchups drawing more than double the average number of household viewers than in previous tournaments for the Spanish-language broadcaster.

Univision televised 56 matches live during the tournament. According to the latest figures compiled by Nielsen Media Research, Univision's World Cup games had an average household rating of 1.3 percent between June 9 and Friday, an average of 1.5 million households.

"It's been probably their best World Cup ever," said analyst David C. Joyce of Miller Tabak & Co. "I think the expectations have been slightly exceeded, so the advertisers should be happy."

The live airing of the first game during the tournament featuring Mexico, on June 11 against Iran, drew more viewers for Univision than the 2002 World Cup final, Joyce said.