The ratings juggernaut that is the ongoing 2014 FIFA World Cup scored another coup for ESPN, with the USA-Belgium Round of 16 match July 1 averaging nearly 16.5 million viewers and a 9.8 household rating, making it the second-most-watched men's soccer match ever in the United States.

The overtime match was characterized by a strong performance from USA goalkeeper Tim Howard (pictured) who, despite a losing effort (Belgium won 2-1), managed 16 saves, the most ever for an American goal-stopper in a World Cup. Belgium will next play Argentina in the quarterfinals on July 5.

In addition to the live TV ratings boost, the match also set WatchESPN records, with an average minute audience of 1,107,000 viewers, a 7% increase from the previous record set by USA-Germany on June 26. WatchESPN averaged 3.5 million unique viewers and 190.2 million minutes viewed during the match, both records for the platform. The 2014 event has now delivered ESPN’s six largest audiences for men’s World Cup matches ever.

Overall, ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC have combined to reach more than 99 million people through the first 52 matches.

Additional highlights:

--ESPN’s television, digital and audio coverage generated a combined average minute audience of nearly 18 million people.

--At its highest point, ESPN’s telecast averaged 19,543,000 viewers and an 11.5 U.S. household rating from 5:30 to 6 p.m. while WatchESPN peaked at 1,500,000 concurrent users.

--ESPN’s telecast is the third most-viewed soccer match – men’s or women’s – in the United States behind ESPN’s record-setting USA vs. Portugal telecast and the 1999 Women’s World Cup final (USA vs. China) on ABC (17,975,000 viewers).

Spanish-language Univision Deportes also reaped rewards from the match: USA-Belgium was the network’s most watched Round of 16 contest ever, averaging 4.4 million total viewers (22% above its 2010 Round of 16 audience) and 2.3 million adults aged 18-49, a 10% increase over 2010.

The matches aired on the Univision Network, and simulcast on Univision Deportes Network (UDN), from Saturday, June 28, to Tuesday, July 1, 2014. Total viewers for USA vs. Belgium were 5.1 million and 2.4 million adults aged 18-49.

So far, Univision Deportes’ coverage of the 2014 World Cup has reached 70.9 million total viewers through the Round of 16 and the network’s coverage is pacing ahead of its 2010 World Cup telecasts by about 39% among total viewers and 27% among adults aged 18-49 through 56 matches.

Comcast said it will offer all 64 2014 FIFA World Cup matches in Spanish through Instant On Demand, an emerging new service from the MSO that lets customers restart TV shows already in progress.

Comcast said it’s the only operator enabling this feature with Univision’s Spanish coverage of the soccer-fest, noting that it’s the first time it’s using the new technology to make such a broad selection of time-shifted content available in a language other than English.

Comcast tested Instant On Demand earlier this year for NBC’s primetime coverage of the Sochi Olympic Games, and announced at The Cable Show in April that Instant On Demand is one of several new features that’s coming to its X1 platform.

Comcast added that it will also allow customers to live stream matches in multiple languages via its Xfinity TV microsites and the Xfinity TV Go app. All 64 matches will be offered for live streaming in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, with select matches streamed in Korean. The Xfinity Latino Entertainment Channel (XLEC) will include direct links to matches and simulcasts of special programming with in-depth analysis of the tournament

Among other features, Comcast will also offer about 300 hours of World Cup-related content on-demand, including replays of every match in Spanish and English, and the event’s opening and closing ceremonies. VOD fare linked to the World Cup will feature content from several partner networks, including beIN Sports, Fox Deportes and Telemundo, as well as 16 soccer-themed films and documentaries from  Cine Sony Television, ViendoMovies, FOX Life, Discovery en Español, NUVOtv, and Cinelatino.

Comcast will also use SEEiT to tout World Cup coverage, enabling both Spanish- and English-speaking customers to use Twitter to tune their TVs to a match, set viewing reminders and set DVR recordings.

“The World Cup is an opportunity to provide Xfinity TV customers, particularly our Latino and multicultural subscribers with a comprehensive mix of content across multiple platforms and in multiple languages,” said Marcien Jenckes, EVP, consumer services, for Comcast Cable, in a statement. “The World Cup is already the most watched and anticipated event in the world in any language, and we are proud to be able to deliver to our customers not only the culturally relevant content they want most, but also exclusive access to innovations, like Instant On Demand, and even more ways than ever to experience the 2014 World Cup anytime, anywhere and on any device.”

Even if you don’t care about soccer, you might be curious about six very different Brazilian cities that will host the upcoming matches and, in the case of Rio de Janeiro, the Summer Olympics in two years.

A great introduction to the people and sights of Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Brasília, Manaus, Salvador and Recife comes via the 30-minute documentary Soccer Cities on BBC World News. The BBC’s clever hexacopter camera captures aerial views of the new stadiums and other urban and rainforest landscapes, and trails behind kids “free running” through empty areas of the pre-planned capital city Brasilia and mountain biking down narrow sloping alleyways in Rio. The visuals are fantastic and BBC Brasil’s knowledge of the people and politics bring us average folks who are both proud of and frustrated with their country. I loved asides about handicapped kids taking “bototherapy” swimming sessions with river dolphins in Manaus and about bouncy Frevo dancers in Recife, practicing an art invented by African slaves.

Soccer Cities will air on BBC World News on Saturday, June 14, at 5:30 and 10:30 p.m. (This was story was updated to correct the first airtime.)

With simulcasts of 56 matches and a host of shoulder fare, Univision Deportes Network will convert into a 24/7 World Cup service on June 9.

Univision Communications Inc.’s cable sports network will deliver more 2014 FIFA World Cup content than any other linear service in the U.S. through July 13, the day after the conclusion of the soccer tourney. The matches on flagship network Univision and UDN will feature the voices and insights of Enrique “El Perro”  Bermúdez, Félix “El Gato” Fernández, Jesús “El Profe”  Bracamontes, and Luis Omar Tapia, among others

In addition to live broadcasts of 56 matches, a schedule that includes the semifinals and the title game on July 12, the 40 million-subscriber UDN will deliver an array of World Cup specials, fresh morning and nighttime shows devoted entirely to the FIFA’s famed tourney and daily special editions of the network’s regular sports commentary programs, airing live from Rio de Janeiro. 

UDN will present original and/or live programming for 17 consecutive hours daily, from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. (ET) (before heading into a WC encore mode in the overnight hours), highlighted by extended live pre-game shows for each match, with Fútbol Club Desde Río serving as the first live show each night to recap the action from each day.  All live coverage will originate from UDN’s three set locations in Brazil.

As previously reported, broadcast network UniMás and Spanish-language cable network Galavisión will simulcast eight live games and special programming during the month-long tournament. The cable network will also broadcast the best match of the day in primetime in a 60 minute format.

Digitally, users will be able to tap Univision Deportes App and see live-streams of the matches on computers, smartphones and tablets. They will be able to rewind their favorite plays and receive personalized fan alerts, original and exclusive live content, the latest information on their favorite teams, match schedules, real-time highlights and results, and much more. The app will also connect users to each other via Twitter and Facebook. In addition, fans can access comprehensive, up-to-the-minute World Cup content on www.UnivisionDeportes.com from now until the end of the championship.

“We couldn’t be more excited about our World Cup coverage and the incredible access it will provide to millions of soccer fanatics in the U.S., allowing them to not only watch every game live on any platform they choose but also get a first-hand, behind-the-scenes look inside the lively atmosphere and excitement unfolding in one of the world’s most soccer-loving countries,” said Juan Carlos Rodríguez, president of Univision Deportes. “With three dedicated studios in Brazil, a Univision Deportes team of over 150 media professionals on the ground, including world-renowned soccer experts and some of Spanish-language TV’s most popular personalities, plus the use of today’s most sophisticated broadcasting technology such as Augmented Reality graphics, multi-touch screens and many other features, no one else will cover the World Cup like Univision Deportes—the undisputed home of World Cup action in America.”

Sports aside, Univision entertainment programming will also be in the game. Weekday morning show, Despierta América (Wake Up America), will showcase myriad segments from Rio, with co-host Alan Tacher, reporters Maity Interiano and Orlando Segura and social media correspondent William Valdés on the beat.

El Gordo y La Flaca (The Scoop and the Skinny) co-host Raúl de Molina and reporter Carlos Calderón will be stationed in Rio’s famous Copacabana area to bring viewers the latest entertainment gossip surrounding the world’s biggest sporting event. The show airs weekdays at 4 p.m. (ET/PT) and 3 p.m. (Central).

The following is Univision Communications’ non-match coverage plan as described by the networks.

UNIVISION DEPORTES NETWORK EXCLUSIVES – TO BE BROADCAST FROM RIO

“Súper Estadio Brasil” (Brazil Super Stadium)

Monday to Sunday at 8:00 a.m. ET/7:00 a.m. CT/5:00 a.m. PT

This unique morning show will report daily up-to-date news and information, live from Rio de Janeiro.

“Fútbol Club – Desde Río” (Fútbol Club – From Rio)

Monday to Sunday - For times, please check local TV listings or visit UnivisionDeportes.com

Using the latest technology, Edgar Martínez, Felix Fernández and Hristo Stoichkov will host special guests as they analyze, debate and discuss everything that’s happening in Brazil, on and off the field—twice a day.

“Fútbol Central – Edición Mundial” (Futbol Central – World Cup Edition)

Monday to Sunday - For times, please check local TV listings or visit UnivisionDeportes.com

A pre-game report detailing everything fans need to know before each live match.

“Copa Mundial en 30” (World Cup in 30 minutes)

Monday to Sunday - For times, please check local TV listings or visit UnivisionDeportes.com

Fans will be able to watch 30-minute versions of the two best matches of the day.

“Copa Mundial en 60” (World Cup in 60 minutes)

Monday to Sunday - For times, please check local TV listings or visit UnivisionDeportes.com

Fans will be able to watch 60-minute versions World Cup matches.

“Previo de la FIFA” (FIFA’s Preview Show)

Monday to Sunday at 7:30 a.m. ET/6:30 a.m. CT/4:30 a.m. PT

An exclusive FIFA show looking ahead to the day’s action.

AIRING ON UDN AND UNIVISION NETWORK:

“República Mundialista” (World Cup Republic)

Monday to Sunday at 12:00 a.m. ET/11:00 p.m. CT/9:00 p.m. PT

Special guests join Univision Deportes talent to bring fans the World Cup in a fun and entertaining way, live from Brazil.

“República Deportiva – Edición Mundial” (Sports Republic – World Cup Edition)

Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. CT/11:00 a.m. PT

Hosts: Fernando Fiore, Felix Fernández and Lindsay Casinelli

The ever popular sports show airs live from Rio de Janeiro during the World Cup.

AIRING ON UDN AND UNIMÁS

“Contacto Deportivo” (Sports Contact)

Monday to Sunday at 11:00 p.m. ET/10:00 p.m. CT/8:00 p.m. PT

Hosts: Alejandro Berry and Jorge Calvo

The nightly sportscast will air live from Rio de Janeiro for the duration of the World Cup.

AIRING ON GALAVISIÓN

“Copa Mundial en 60” (World Cup in 60)

Match dates – 8:00 p.m. ET/PT (7:00 p.m. Central)

A re-broadcast of the day’s best match.