The BBC once again won the ratings battle for the World Cup final, attracting a peak audience of 15.8 million viewers, dwarfing the 3.4 million who tuned into ITV's coverage. An average of 13.9 million watched the tense finale on the BBC, where Spain secured glory with an extra-time goal by Ferran Torres against ten-man Argentina.
Viewing Figures Breakdown
Data from Digital-i agency shows ITV's peak audience was 3.4 million. Despite ITV's widely praised build-up coverage, featuring an impressive studio and pundit line-up, most viewers chose the BBC. The BBC's team included Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, and Micah Richards, with Gaby Logan reporting from New York.
Almost 18 million people tuned in overall to see Spain win the World Cup. The BBC's coverage also included the controversial half-time show, which lasted 27 minutes and 24 seconds, just two minutes less than the ball was in play during the first half.
BBC Sport Director's Reaction
Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport, said: "This has been a World Cup we'll never forget, and that's entirely down to the millions of people who chose to experience it with the BBC." He thanked viewers across all platforms and noted the BBC's ambition to be there for audiences every step of the way.
Previous Matches
Saturday's ten-goal thriller between England and France saw a peak audience of 11.8 million on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with an average of 10.8 million, as England secured their best World Cup finish since 1966. The semi-final between England and Argentina drew a peak audience of 24 million.
