MUMBAI: There is close connect between sport and national pride. So it comes as no surprise to learn that Chile's Gold and Bronze medals in tennis at the Olympics had a positive rub off on TVN, which is the country's FTA pubcaster.

On 21 August, around four million viewers, which accounted for 28 per cent of the TV market share, tuned in to see fellow countryman Fernando González defeat America's Taylor Dent for the Bronze.

Just a couple of hours later, González was on court again for the Men's Doubles Gold medal match playing alongside countryman Nicolás Massú and facing Germany's Nicolas Kiefer and Rainer Schuettler. The almost four hours of play registered an average of 38 per cent market share. Around 5.7 million viewers tuned in.

The stakes were raised further last Sunday when Nicolás Massú played and defeated America's Mardy Fish for the Gold. That match registered a 43 per cent market share.

TVN is no doubt hoping that the enthusiasm will continue when Massú and González once again play for their country during the Davis Cup World Group Play-Offs against Japan in Massú's home city of Viña del Mar.