Copa Libertadores Boost Audience Delivery @ Fox Sports en Español.

Fox Sports en Español continues to set new ratings records with its live, mid-week telecasts of the prestigious South American soccer competition Copa Toyota Libertadores. Fox Sports en Español’s telecasts of the 2004 Copa since the end of January have given the channel the top spot in delivery of Hispanic households for live sports programming in all of Spanish-language cable television for the broadcast 2004 year to date, according to Nielsen Media Research.

For the first six months of broadcast year 2004, Fox Sports en Español’s average program rating among national Hispanic households scored five of the top 10 spots in sports programming for adults 18 to 49 and men 18 to 49. InterLiga, a two-week Copa Toyota Libertadores qualifying tournament for Mexican club teams held in January, delivered the highest average household coverage ratings ever for the channel: an 8.38 coverage area rating on January 21 and an 8.64 on January 28. The two top Mexican teams from InterLiga, América and Santos Laguna, have since advanced with 14 other clubs to the knockout phase of the Copa Toyota Libertadores.

“The momentum that we anticipated would continue for this championship tournament is there, and the ratings prove it,” said Tom Maney, Senior Vice President of Advertising Sales for Fox Sports en Español. “This competition attracts a large following in the U.S. because the teams represented are simply the best in Latin America and Mexico, and they play at a world-class level of soccer.”

Total delivery for Fox Sports en Español among households for Copa Toyota Libertadores is also up significantly over the previous year. In 2004, first-round actuals are up 36% vs. 2003 on household delivery, and 24% for adults18 to 49.

The 16 teams that have advanced now enter a fierce phase of the Copa Toyota Libertadores competition. Club América from Mexico will take on Sao Caetano from Brazil at Estadio Azteca on May 11 and is hoping to advance to the quarterfinals. Defending 2003 champion Boca Juniors of Argentina and runner-up Santos from Brazil possess young superstars that have delivered decisive victories and could bring about a championship rematch. Venezuelan club Deportivo Táchira is the surprise team of the tournament so far and could be a dangerous opponent in the round of 16.