The latest update on the Chessbase web site claims that about 1000
spectators were watching the WCC finals on the playchess.com server.

Assuming the same number of spectators on the ICC and the official WCC
server, that would provide a ball park estimate of a total of 3000 on-line
spectators. Not particularly an overwhelming number, but much better than
the 4 on-site spectators.

Sufficient to attract commercial sponsors?


"PeteCasso" wrote in message
...
There are more players and officials in the WCC in Libya than people in
the
audience. A picture on the Chessbase web site shows a mere four
individuals
in the audience. No wonder that there is a lack of sponsors too!

I wonder if the organizers track the size of the off-site audience who
watch
the games via the Internet. I don't see any numbers published in this
regard. Or is the size of the off-site audience also so small, that
publishing it would do more harm than good for attracting sponsors?