World Cup gaining in value in US

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2006

NEW YORK (AFP) — All 64 games of the 2006 World Cup in Germany will be broadcast live in the United States, where football is gaining currency as a viewing spectacle amid a large Hispanic following.

While the world's most popular sport remains a minority interest in the US market compared with commercial juggernauts like American Football, buying up World Cup television rights here is becoming an increasingly expensive proposition.

For the national ABC network and ESPN sports network -- both owned by the Walt Disney company -- the coming tournament in Germany will mark their fourth straight shared broadcast of a World Cup.

For the first time, the games will be televised in high definition and ABC will broadcast 12 matches live -- a significant change from...