ummmm, no. (from Forbes Magazine)
_______________________________________________________
http://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2014/06/09/american-world-cup-rights-fees-soar-along-with-viewership/
Things have changed quite a bit since then, and network investments reflect the increased exposure. When TNT secured the rights to the 1990 World Cup, the cable network wound up on the hook for just $7.75 million. Four years later ESPN paid $11 million for the English-language rights, and it doubled its payout to $22 million for the 1998 tournament in France.
Compare that to the $425 million check Fox will write for the rights to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups (plus a handful of other rights, including the Women’s World Cup). That’s not only a massive increase over the tournaments of the 1990s, but also over even more recent years: The same package cost ESPN just $100 million for the previous two World Cups, in 2010 and 2014.
______________________________________________________
And why do you keep comparing to the NFL. NO soccer fan I know thinks the popularity of soccer is close, nor believes it will be anytime soon.
Oops, I misread my story
http://www.soccertimes.com/worldcup/2005/nov02.htm
missed that Univision was in the mix for the $425 million.
We compare to the NFL because they’re the top of the heap, they’re the guys making all the right moves. The goal of business is to be the top of the heap, and right now that’s the NFL. It’s the yard stick.