Sharp rise in global TV audience for women’s football

Global television audiences for the Women’s World Cup in Canada have bounced sharply in the opening days of the tournament and merchandise has flown off the shelves, underscoring the growing popularity of the game.

Around 3.3m Americans tuned in to watch Team USA’s opening win against Australia, FIFA said on Wednesday, three times the number who saw its opener in Germany four years ago.

In China, viewership nearly doubled for the country’s first game while 16 percent more Japanese (4.2m) watched their defending champions beat Switzerland in the opener than those who watched them in the semi-finals in the last tournament.

A showdown between France and England drew roughly 1.5m viewers in each country, a third more French viewers than last time.

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In Video: Record turnout at women’s world cup opener

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 The figures, while far below the average official rating of 188.4m viewers per game in the men’s World Cup in Brazil last year, highlights the growing momentum in the women’s game.

Women’s football has played second fiddle to the more lucrative men’s game but the bribery scandal surrounding FIFA, the sport’s governing body, and hopes for a US triumph close to home has spurred interest in a section of the sport less drenched in money.

“The reason people sponsor sport is to connect to the ideals of sport,” said Wade Oosterman, president of BCE Inc, a major sponsor and parent of the event’s broadcaster, Bell Media.

“It’s the joy of the game, it’s competition, it’s integrity and fair play, it’s all those positive attributes – and thank God the Women’s World Cup represents those in spades.”

As the FIFA scandal broke, the spotlight turned to the Women’s World Cup as games got underway in five Canadian cities last week, bringing an unintended benefit to an overlooked sport.

More than 1.5m fans are expected, nearly double that seen in Germany in 2011, which had fewer games, as tickets sell out.

Overall, more than 8.6m Canadians have tuned into watch during the opening three days of the tournament, more than triple the 2011 audience.

On the ground, sports bars in New York and Los Angeles filled up for the first U.S. game, while lineups for merchandise at games in Edmonton and Winnipeg snaked hundreds of meters as fans stood for hours to get a t-shirt or hat.

“I have been 10 years in the business and every year it is growing,” said Aftab Hadi, owner of Robson Sports, which sells licensed team sports jerseys, caps and scarves on Vancouver’s main shopping street a few blocks from the stadium.

“The Canada team shirt is the most popular selling item here. The ladies and youth sizes I had to re-order as it was sold.”

Official Women’s World Cup footballs, which cost $128 each are almost sold out, he said.