World Cup Ratings Score for ABC/ESPN

Lots of people are watching World Cup soccer, which has become a TV ratings giant in less than a week. Still, it's what people are hearing that has created more reaction than what they're watching.

Not surprisingly, Saturday's United States-England tie on ABC was the most-watched first-round World Cup match since 1994. After all the hype as well as an appropriate nationalistic curiosity, it would've been a surprise if it did not draw a big number and lots of eyeballs. With a 7.3 rating, it attracted about 13 million viewers -- and those are great numbers for almost any sporting event, especially one that airs on a Saturday afternoon in mid-June.

According the ABC/ESPN, the three-hour window for the telecast (including a one-hour pregame show) drew more than 10.7 million viewers and the telecast ranks as the fifth-most-watched soccer event ever -- behind three World Cup finals (including the 1999 Women’s World Cup Final) and a round of 16 game (United States-Brazil) in 1994 -- in the United States. All of those matches were televised on ABC.

Through five matches of World Cup coverage, ESPN and ABC were averaging 3,427,000 households and 4,937,000 viewers -- up 95 percent and 108 percent, respectively -- versus the first five games of the 2006 World Cup (1,754,000 households and 2,379,000 viewers).

“The 2010 FIFA World Cup is off to a tremendous start for ESPN,” said John Skipper, ESPN executive vice president-content, said in a statement. “Strong viewership on television and other platforms -- including the best first round rating in 16 years -- and the overwhelmingly positive reaction we are receiving from fans demonstrate the enormous popularity of this global sports event and how ESPN is uniquely positioned to cover it.”

For soccer aficionados, that's good news -- probably opening the door for more soccer on TV, at least on the ESPN family, in the future because it's hard to imagine the numbers going down as the World Cup progresses.

The early morning weekday start times for the two remaining U.S. matches in pool play (9:30 a.m. Friday, June 18 vs. Slovenia and 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 23 vs. Algeria) might not be ideal, but even if people watch in fewer numbers than for the opener the matches will still shatter ratings for typical weekday mornings. And, the remaining U.S. matches could draw ratings similar to the opener as more people jump on the once-ever-four-years soccer bandwagon.

About the only thing that has not gotten universal approval from TV viewers during the World Cup are "vuvezelas" used by soccer fans in South Africa. The plastic horns, a tradition among fans in the country, create a buzzing sound that gets picked up loud and clear by ambient microphones at the matches.

According to several ESPN sources, the topic has been discussed by network officials -- including possibly using technology to mute the sound -- but it has not been the subject of loud or regular complaints from viewers in the United States. Not surprisingly, English fans (perhaps as a product of the 1-1 tie their nation's team endured in the first round against the United States) have been a bit more vocal with their complaints.

An Associated Press report from London said the BBC had received 545 complaints from viewers and the broadcaster was working to minimize the noise during its broadcasts. In fact, the BBC is considering a service that would allow viewers to must ambient game noise and still be able to hear the commentary of announcers.

FIFA president Sepp Blattner has said the sanctioning body would not ban the vevuzela from stadiums.

By midday Tuesday, the company that provides the world feed for matches, Host Broadcast Services, said it would provide additional audio filters for the buzzing sound created by the horns.

That's a shame, because the horns are part of the atmosphere in South Africa. ESPN Radio hosts Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic are among those who believe the sound should stay.

Indecision Produces Solid Sports Talk

Too often sports talk radio thrives only on opinions, reaction and vitriol, with common decency and common sense lost in all the jabber.

Thankfully, though, a sensible island if indecision exists -- and that's why "Mike and Mike in the Morning" on ESPN Radio remains the best sports talk show on radio.

Hosts Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg have opinions, and they're not afraid to share them when appropriate, but they never rant and rave just for reaction. They prefer informed discussion, and when they do not have a strong opinion they're not afraid to share their indecision with listeners.

Greenberg did that again on Wednesday morning's show when the discussion turned to LeBron James and his recent streak of sitting out games late in the season despite being healthy. Some argue the NBA star has a responsibility to play, providing paying customers the on-court presence they expect to see when they purchase a ticket. Some argue it's OK for him to sit out and rest in preparation for the playoffs because he's ultimately there to help the franchise win a championship.

Greenberg had no stomach for an argument on either side, though. He told listeners he could see the situation from both sides, and he and Golic capably and thoughtfully talked about the pros and cons of the situation.

Still, they refused to pick a side just to prompt reaction -- something many other radio hosts would do in a heartbeat -- and that inaction was refreshing. Sports talk radio needs more of that, and it's already good that it exists with "Mike and Mike."

ESPN2 Broadcast Combines Two Good Things

Hardly anyone will watch, but ESPN2 presents two important things in the same broadcast at 7 tonight -- a slice of some 84-year-old Americana and a practice run for some emerging technology.

The Americana comes in the form of the Harlem Globetrotters, and the game that airs tonight was taped live Thursday against their regular foils, the Washington Generals. Some interesting tweaks come with ESPN Radio hosts Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic as guest coaches for the respective teams, and the entire event gets presented under the Disney Sports banner as the "re-launch" of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando.

Yes, it's a company show all the way around -- with Disney-owned ESPN presenting the event and its personnel playing big roles.

Still, the Globetrotters and their age-old schtick have proven their time-tested worth in the past on TV. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, they were a mainstay of "Wide World of Sports" presented by ABC Sports and as recently as 2008 the Globetrotters hour-long appearance on the fledgling MyNetworkTV cable channel produced some 2.4 million viewers.

While Globetrotters games are not competitive contests, and some of the related activities and skits have not changed almost since the inception of the barnstorming group, that comfort and familiarity do produce entertainment that has an audience. It would be a huge victory if 2.4 million people watched tonight, though, especially opposite the Olympics.

Mostly, the game provides some necessary programming for ESPN and another forum to hype both Disney World and ESPN the Weekend. In addition, ESPN's Emerging Technology Group used the contest as an another test for ESPN's 3D network, which will be fully launched in June with the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Officials expect ESPN 3D, the industry’s first 3D television network, to showcase a minimum of 85 live sporting events during its first year, with the first June 11 when South Africa meets Mexico in the Word Cup. Along with more than 20 World Cup games, the initial 3D schedule includes X Games 16, college basetball and college football -- including the BCS National Championship Game in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 10, 2011.

ESPN has been testing 3D for more than two years. Last fall, ESPN presented the USC at Ohio State football game in 3D. It was shown in theaters in the respective markets and on campus, and received generally positive feedback. Since then, ESPN has continually honed its effort and, in January, signed Sony as an official sponsor of the 3D network. As a result, Sony will be the exclusive 3D sponsor of the 2011 BCS National Championship Game, 13 regular season college football games and other events where ESPN will utilize Sony professional HD cameras.

Best Show on Radio Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Today marks the 10th anniversary for "Mike and Mike in the Morning" on ESPN Radio, and it is a show worth celebrating.

Because of the diverse experiences and talent (former Notre Dame and NFL defensive lineman Mike Golic and former Northwestern student and solid sports journalist Mike Greenberg), and because of ESPN's platform and power, "Mike and Mike" make an impact each and every day on the air.

Like any other show, they're usually topical. Unlike other shows, though, ESPN allows them access to solid experts and guest.

Like any other show hosts, they have things to say. Unlike other show hosts, though, they play almost perfectly of off each other, expressing opinions and insights without sounding pompous or preachy.

It's just a good show, and it has remained strong -- even improved -- during four hours every morning because the on- and off-air team continually adapt and update. While Mike and Mike remain as the consistent building blocks, certain guests, segments and special events change. So the show never gets tiresome or stale. It's familiar and fun.

At the same time, other standards remain, including the upcoming "Sheet of Integrity" challenge around the NCAA Tournament in which the two hosts complete separate bracket sheets for the tournament with an associated wager.

As with all good radio, the hosts bare their souls, share personal stories and come across as people whom listeners like.

Those personalities drive the show more than expertise and opinions. Plus, the production team for the program -- especially as it has diversified through the years and found a simulcast home on ESPN2 -- has only added to the success of "Mike and Mike." Whether on TV or radio, with a great variety of song parodies and skits, the behind-the-scenes team (and they're sometimes front and center, which is nice) plays an important and valuable role in the show's success.

It's one of the best examples of what sports talk radio should strive to be.