USA's Loss to Czechs Was Ratings Hit, Viewing Miss

Filed in archive US Soccer on June 14, 2006

image: espn.com

The good news for soccer in America is that USA's 0-3 beating at the hands of the Czech Republic got a 2.4 cable rating. Apparently this is good, because it made it the most watched broadcast on ESPN2 this year.

The bad news is that many of these viewers will have been the "soccer-curious". Pulled in by the promise of a decent USA team to root for, they saw their team produce the worst showing of any team in the tournament so far and soundly beaten for their trouble. Many of the curious fans will be curious no longer. Once bitten, twice shy.