NEW YORK (Monday, June 24, 2002) - Ratings and advertising sales for Soccer United Marketing's (SUM) World Cup broadcasts on ESPN and ESPN2 have continued following the quarterfinal surge of the U.S. National Team, revealing a strong domestic following of the unprecedented American results in Korea/Japan.

Television ratings provided by Nielsen Media Research indicate that interest in live World Cup broadcasts on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC is growing dramatically despite the 13+ hour time difference between the United States and Korea/Japan, the site of this year's World Cup

ESPN's Friday morning telecast of the U.S. vs. Germany quarterfinal match on June 21 at 7:30 a.m. ET, seen in an average of 3.77 million television homes based on a 4.36 rating, is the network's most-watched and highest-rated soccer telecast ever, according to Nielsen Media Research data. Also, the telecast is ESPN's most-viewed program ever in the second
quarter of a year (April - June).

The quarterfinal game, a thrilling 1-0 U.S. loss, surpassed a 1999 Women's World Cup semifinal match between U.S. and Brazil, watched by 2.88 million television homes. Previously, the highest-rated soccer telecast on ESPN was a 4.26 for the first-round match of the 1994 World Cup between U.S. and Colombia.

Additional ratings highlights from U.S. - Germany: 
ESPN's highest-rated program of the year among men 18-34 (5.32 rating)
Cable's most-viewed morning (7A-1PM) program ever among men 18-34 (1,351,571 impressions)

ESPN's morning telecasts of 21 World Cup matches through June 21 have averaged a 1.09 rating, up 230% over the 0.33 average rating for the 1:30 - 9:30 a.m. time period in June 2001. Television households for the matches on ESPN have averaged 948,000, up 251% from the time period last year.

ESPN2's 33 telecasts have averaged a 0.57 rating and 476,000 households, a ratings increase of 418% (0.11 rating in 2001) and household increase of 473% (83,000 television homes) over the time period last year.

Ratings and household impressions for ESPN and ESPN2 are up for the 2002 Men's World Cup from Korea and Japan compared to the 1998 World Cup in France, which generally was aired between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET

With a 1.09 average rating to-date in 2002 for 21 telecasts, ESPN's rating is up 19% over the 0.94 average in 1998. Households are up 37%, averaging 948,000 in 2002 compared to 691,000 in 1998. ESPN2's ratings are up two percent - 0.57 in 2002 - over a 0.56 average in 1998. Television households are up 47 percent - 476,000 in 2002 - against the average of
323,000 in 1998.

Some of the world's top sports advertisers are the beneficiaries of these ratings. In all, 28 partners are supporting the broadcast including such leading brands as Budweiser, Chevrolet, adidas, MasterCard, Volkswagen, Nike, Burger King, Canon, Apple, Subway, Philips, ADT, and
Yahoo. "We would like to thank our partners for the faith they have shown in our ability to deliver the results they expect," said Garber. "These companies took a risk with us and are being handsomely rewarded by the soccer fans in this country."

Story by Trey Fitz-Gerald, MLS Communications
www.MLSnet.com