If you would like to ask about or request ratings for a program or event on these networks, please reach Douglas on Twitter @SonOfTheBronx.

Ratings News and Notes

  • On Apr. 15, ESPN was Saturday night’s No. 1 network among adults 18-49 and adults 18-34 due to the three games of the “2017 NBA Playoffs” opening weekend. Their evening was highlighted by Game 1 of the San Antonio Spurs-Memphis Grizzlies series (3.16 million) which grew 8 percent in viewership from the comparable year-ago Game 1 (2.93 million of Boston-Atlanta from Apr. 16, 2016).

    With the inclusion of streaming audience into its figures, ESPN’s Saturday NBA tripleheader (Toronto-Milwaukee, San Antonio-Memphis, L.A. Clippers-Utah) averaged 2.98 million viewers, up 11 percent from the year-ago Saturday (2.68 million). (Source: ESPN)

  • The 30 for 30 documemtary One and Not Done from Apr. 13, about Kentucky basketball head coach John Calipari, ranked as ESPN’s tenth-most watched telecast of the week. Compared to the year-ago “30 for 30” doc “This Magic Moment” (Apr. 14, 2016), it drew -39 percent less viewers (924,000 vs. 1.509 million) and -47 percent less adults 18-49 (520,000 vs. 989,000).
  • The first round of the 2017 WNBA Draft on ESPN2 (Apr. 13) saw audience growth of 7 percent from the 2016 WNBA Draft first round (273,000 vs. 254,000 viewers from Apr. 14, 2016). On the downside, the Draft’s second and third rounds on the same Apr. 13 night but on ESPNU drew 74,000 viewers, -30 percent from the prior year (105,000 viewers on Apr. 14, 2016).
  • The 2017 Bassmaster Classic in the mornings of Apr. 15-16 on ESPN2 averaged 163,000 viewers and 72,000 adults 18-49, -16 percent in viewers and -15 percent among adults 18-49 from the 2016 Classic (Mar. 19-20, 2016).
  • Professional bowling’s 2017 Roth/Holman PBA Doubles Championship on ESPN (Apr. 16; 511,000 viewers) was up 18 percent from 2016 PBA Doubles Championship (Jan. 17, 2016; 434,000 viewers) and up 4 percent from the PBA League Quarterfinals on the year-ago Sunday (Apr. 17, 2016; 490,000 viewers).
  • With just three additional Sunday editions remaining, The Sports Reporters from Apr. 16 drew 645,000 viewers and 313,000 adults 18-49 on ESPN; +12 percent and +3 percent, respectively, from the year-ago ESPN telecast (577,000 viewers/303,000 adults 18-49 from Apr. 17, 2016)

ESPN Top 25 (and Select) Programs


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In total viewership for its entire week in Prime Time (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.), ESPN is up +14 percent (1,331,000 vs. 1,164,000) from one week earlier and down -7 percent (1,331,000 vs. 1,428,000) from the same week one year ago (April 11-17, 2016).

In total viewership for its entire week in Total Day (6 a.m. to 5:59 a.m.), ESPN is down -6 percent (591,000 vs. 631,000) from one week earlier and down -13 percent (591,000 vs. 676,000) from the same week one year ago (April 11-17, 2016).

ESPN’s daily programs viewership averages for the week:

  • “First Take” (ESPN, Apr. 10-14): 374,000 (234,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Outside the Lines: First Report” (ESPN, Apr. 10-14): 276,000 (173,000 adults 18-49)
  • “NFL Insiders” (ESPN, Apr. 10-14): 271,000 (170,000 adults 18-49)
  • “NFL Live” (ESPN, Apr. 10-14): 294,000 (175,000 adults 18-49)
  • “NBA: The Jump” (ESPN, Apr. 10-14): 284,000 (182,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsNation” (ESPN, Apr. 10-14): 308,000 (201,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Highly Questionable” (ESPN, Apr. 10-14): 386,000 (245,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Around the Horn” (ESPN, Apr. 10-14): 442,000 (248,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Pardon the Interruption” (ESPN, Apr. 10-14): 657,000 (350,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsCenter” (ESPN, Apr. 10-14 7 a.m.): 309,000 (185,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsCenter” (ESPN, Apr. 10-14 8 a.m.): 293,000 (178,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsCenter” (ESPN, Apr. 10-14 9 a.m.): 291,000 (184,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SC6 with Michael and Jemele” (ESPN, Apr. 10-14 6 p.m.): 400,000 (236,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsCenter” (ESPN, Apr. 11 & 13-14 11 p.m.): 387,000 (216,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsCenter” (ESPN, Apr. 11 & 13-14 midnight): 369,000 (224,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsCenter at Night” (ESPN, Apr. 10-14 1 a.m.): 425,000 (254,000 adults 18-49)

ESPN2 Top 25 (and Select) Programs


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In total viewership for its entire week in Prime Time (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.), ESPN2 is down -23 percent (158,000 vs. 204,000) from one week earlier and down -50 percent (158,000 vs. 317,000) from the same week one year ago (April 11-17, 2016).

In total viewership for its entire week in Total Day (6 a.m. to 5:59 a.m.), ESPN2 is down -17 percent (131,000 vs. 158,000) from one week earlier and down -53 percent (131,000 vs. 279,000) from the same week one year ago (April 11-17, 2016).

ESPN2’s daily show viewership averages for the week:

  • “Mike & Mike in the Morning” (ESPN2, Apr. 10-14): 187,000 (91,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Dan Le Batard Show (live)” (ESPN2, Apr. 10-14): 91,000 (47,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Nacion ESPN” (ESPN2, Apr. 10 5 p.m.): 62.000 (40,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Baseball Tonight (late night)” (ESPN2, Apr. 11): 150,000 (77,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Jalen & Jacoby (late night)” (ESPN2, Apr. 11 & 13-14): 99,000 (64,00 adults 18-49)
  • “Best of Mike & Mike in the Morning” (ESPN2, Apr. 13): 73,000 (39,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsCenter” (ESPN2, Apr. 10-14 10 a.m.): 132,000 (63,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsCenter” (ESPN2, Apr. 10-14 11 a.m.): 129,000 (64,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsCenter” (ESPN2, Apr. 10 & 12 prime time): 148,000 (89,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsCenter” (ESPN2, Apr. 10 & 12 11 p.m.): 135,000 (73,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsCenter” (ESPN2, Apr. 10 & 12 midnight): 102,000 (55,000 adults 18-49)

ESPNU Top 25 (and Select) Programs


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In total viewership for its entire week in Prime Time (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.), ESPNU is up +13 percent (45,000 vs. 40,000) from one week earlier and down -35 percent (45,000 vs. 69,000) from the same week one year ago (April 11-17, 2016).

In total viewership for its entire week in Total Day (6 a.m. to 5:59 a.m.), ESPNU is up +4 percent (25,000 vs. 24,000) from one week earlier and down -26 percent (25,000 vs. 34,000) from the same week one year ago (April 11-17, 2016).

ESPNU’s daily show viewership averages for the week:

  • “Dan Le Batard Show” (ESPNU, Apr. 10-14): 22,000 (14,000 adults 18-49)
  • “CFB Daily (live)” (ESPNU, Apr. 10-14): 12,000 (6,000 adults 18-49)

Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research

About Douglas Pucci

Douglas Pucci is a contributor to Programming Insider and blogger at Son of the Bronx.