The records continue to fall for ESPN for its coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
The network’s telecast of the first semifinal game between Brazil and Germany – a 7-1 drubbing of the host country by the Germans – averaged 6.64 million viewers on Tuesday afternoon.
The match, which was also Brazil’s first home loss in a non-Friendly since 1975, was the most-watched World Cup semifinal in U.S. history (the United States hasn’t reached the semifinals since 1930). It was also the highest-rated non-U.S. match in ESPN/ESPN2 history with a 4.2 household rating.
Through 61 matches ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC are averaging 4.2 million viewers, tracking 43% higher than 2010.
ESPN airs the second semifinal Wednesday afternoon between Argentina and 2010 runner-up the Netherlands. The winner will face Germany Sunday on ABC for the title.
