# How many people are watching the English FA Cup Final? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 30, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166 "2009-05-30T15:58:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166/1 "2009-05-30T15:58:24Z")
(This is soccer btw). The commentator said earlier that is being broadcast live to 100+ countries and that the worldwide audience is estimated to be around 500million. Really? How do they get to this? It seems like an awful lot to me, I mean, this game doesn’t really have a high profile in England. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166/2 "2009-05-30T16:16:37Z")
Glad you clarified it was soccer. Based just on your title I was going to post to ask what sport it was. So It’s pretty obvious this 'merkin hasn’t been following the lead-up to the final(s). As best I can find, my satellite TV provider will not be carrying the game. So I definitely won’t be watching. The other 50+million households in the US with the same satellite provider won’t be either. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166/3 "2009-05-30T16:23:29Z")
> [@Dahu](#): > > (This is soccer btw). > > I mean, this game doesn’t really have a high profile in England. Really? ---
**Author:** ![Racer1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee59a6/32.png) [@Racer1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Racer1)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166/4 "2009-05-30T17:04:25Z")
> [@Dahu](#): > > (This is soccer btw). > > The commentator said earlier that is being broadcast live to 100+ countries and that the worldwide audience is estimated to be around 500million. Really? How do they get to this? It seems like an awful lot to me, I mean, this game doesn’t really have a high profile in England. The FA cup final is the biggest domestic game of the season in England. Huge profile here. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166/5 "2009-05-30T17:24:42Z")
Englishman here,what is this Soccer you talk of? I think that the "doesn’t really have a high profile in England "comment is an attempt at a woosh. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166/6 "2009-05-30T17:26:51Z")
I too would like to know where they get the 500 million figure from. That’s roughly 8% of the Earth’s entire population, and even in Britain the viewing figures are probably only 15%. The world average has got to be less than 8%, surely? ---
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166/7 "2009-05-30T17:28:49Z")
I’d question “huge profile”. Big yes, but it’s nothing like the Superbowl in the US or even this years Champions Leage final. Viewing figures were [5.6 million](http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/FA-Cup-Final-Has-The-Final-Lost-Its-Shine-With-TV-Audiences-Dwindling-Over-The-Years/Article/200905415291652?f=rss) last year, nothing special. In fact, as a proportion of the population it’s about 1 in 10 in the UK, which is almost the same as the claimed 500 million audience is to the world’s population. ---
**Author:** ![Racer1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee59a6/32.png) [@Racer1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Racer1)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166/8 "2009-05-30T17:56:43Z")
> [@Dahu](#): > > I’d question “huge profile”. Big yes, but it’s nothing like the Superbowl in the US or even this years Champions Leage final. Viewing figures were [5.6 million](http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/FA-Cup-Final-Has-The-Final-Lost-Its-Shine-With-TV-Audiences-Dwindling-Over-The-Years/Article/200905415291652?f=rss) last year, nothing special. In fact, as a proportion of the population it’s about 1 in 10 in the UK, which is almost the same as the claimed 500 million audience is to the world’s population. That’s roughly 9% of the UK population, and that is only taking into account people watching it at home. In the UK, people often gather in bars to watch sporting events like this together on the big screens. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4770185.stm](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4770185.stm) You can certainly argue it is not as big as the Champions League final, but it is still the biggest domestic game of the year. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166/9 "2009-05-30T19:00:22Z")
Well I didn’t actually want to bring this up. American Football is a bit Gay and not very interesting(All that protective equipment,heaven forfend that they bruise themseves:let alone suffer broken bones) Football,or as you call it Soccer,is one of the most popular spiorts on the Planet,invented by us just like we invented Cricket,Rugby and mostly everything else that is worthwhile on this planet. And now I suspect that I have a bridge to lurk under. ---
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166/10 "2009-05-30T19:20:37Z")
If that was addressed at me then I’d like to point out that I am well aware what football\* is and I used the term “soccer” as well just to try to avoid any pointless comments such as this. What I’d still like to know though, is how popular the FA Cup final is overseas, and where they get this figure of 500 million viewers from? \*\* Coming from Manchester as I do, home to the greatest football club on the entire planet.\* ---
**Author:** ![Sri\_Theo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Sri\_Theo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sri_Theo)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166/11 "2009-05-30T20:58:49Z")
> [@Dahu](#): > > \*\* Coming from Manchester as I do, home to the greatest football club on the entire planet.\* Surely you mean second greatest team in the world? Ducks and Runs 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166/12 "2009-05-30T23:05:27Z")
I didn’t say “team”, I said “football club”. Different thing. Even I would question if they were the second greatest team after their 10th place finish in the league this year. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166/13 "2009-05-31T03:32:09Z")
I recently met a US Navy medic from Nigeria who supports Arsenal. He’s never been to England but babbled on like any true football supporter. I’d say there were a few TV’s on in the Ivory Coast today! Nice header, Drogba. > **[BBC SPORT | Football | FA Cup | FA Cup final photos](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/8075128.stm)** > > Pictures from Wembley as Chelsea beat Everton We only have one local TV channel here in Antigua - and they showed it. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166/14 "2009-05-31T06:46:15Z")
> [@Dahu](#): > > \*\* Coming from Manchester as I do, home to the greatest football club on the entire planet.\* Obviously you mean Manchester City and not that tawdry shower of shite from mould trafford ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166/15 "2009-05-31T08:12:52Z")
> [@chowder](#): > > Obviously you mean Manchester City and not that tawdry shower of shite from mould trafford. I defy anyone to find a football thread during the past 3 years in which you haven’t pulled this kind of shit. Every football fan on this message board knows your views on Manchester United so for Christ’s sake, give it a fucking rest. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166/16 "2009-05-31T16:23:37Z")
> [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > I defy anyone to find a football thread during the past 3 years in which you haven’t pulled this kind of shit. > > Every football fan on this message board knows your views on Manchester United so for Christ’s sake, give it a fucking rest. Lighten up mate,its what we call a running joke. If you’re so sensitive ask yourself “Is this the right MB for you?” \*\*Chowders \*\* a good old bloke. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166/17 "2009-05-31T18:01:13Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Glad you clarified it was soccer. Based just on your title I was going to post to ask what sport it was. So It’s pretty obvious this 'merkin hasn’t been following the lead-up to the final(s). > > As best I can find, my satellite TV provider will not be carrying the game. So I definitely won’t be watching. The other 50+million households in the US with the same satellite provider won’t be either. It was carried here on Fox Soccer Channel. That’s often a plus channel on cable, so unless you’ve paid extra for the package that includes it, you’ll miss out. I can remember WAYYYYYYYYYYYYY back when (1970 something) when the FA Cup final was shown on Wide World of Sports. Arsenal were in the final; beyond that I don’t recall much about it at all. That was back when WWoS showed all sorts of **interesting** things on a Saturday. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![fortytwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f9ae1b/32.png) [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166/18 "2009-05-31T18:48:14Z")
> [@Dahu](#): > > What I’d still like to know though, is how popular the FA Cup final is overseas, and where they get this figure of 500 million viewers from? > > \*\* Coming from Manchester as I do, home to the greatest football club on the entire planet.\* I can’t believe that as a Mancunian you can make statements about football not having a high profile in England and be taken seriously. I’d like to know by what standards you judge a “high profile” sport to be. As for where do they get the figure of 500 million from then I assume the separate broadcasters of the game will have a pretty good idea of their viewing audiences. In 2005 the viewing figures were 485 million, so it doesn’t seem too much of a stretch to estimate this year’s game was watched by 500 million. > **[FA Cup final retains its global appeal - CNN.com](https://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/football/05/28/oldest.cup.competitions/index.html)** > > The English club football season closes this weekend with one of the sport's oldest contests: the FA Cup final. > [@](#): > > Although only contested by English and Welsh clubs, the FA Cup is hugely popular all over the world. > > According to the FA, the estimated global viewing audience for the 2005 final at the Millennium Stadium, where Arsenal beat Manchester United on penalties, was 484 million. That figure dwarfs the audiences for many other major sporting events. However I don’t believe you actually meant to post a serious question here. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166/19 "2009-05-31T19:03:47Z")
Come on, that figure of 485 million is coming from the same source as the 500 million probably came from, the English FA, who have an interest in the event being popular. There is no way that one in ten of the world’s population watches the FA Cup final, since barely one in ten of the people in Britain watch it. I suspect they have just added up the populations of the countries they sell it to, or added up the proportion of those populations that have access to TVs, or something. ---
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166/20 "2009-05-31T19:15:18Z")
Sorry if my OP was a bit unclear. I didn’t mean to say that football (“soccer”) is not a high profile sport in England, I meant to say that the FA Cup final doesn’t have _that_ big a profile. At least, not in recent years. When I was a kid there was very little live football on TV, just the big finals (FA Cup, League Cup, European finals). This is not the case now. The vast majority of fans in England who don’t follow either of the finalists just don’t have much interest in who wins, as I think is shown by recent viewing figures. I am not trying to stir up debate and argument, I am genuinely interested in just where these oft-quoted worldwide viewing figures of 400m+ come from. It was a serious question. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-are-watching-the-english-fa-cup-final/498166.md?page=2)