ESPN looks to boost the audience for the Winter X Games back above the 1 million viewership mark this year, after figures last year declined coming off record cable-only viewership in '10. This year's edition marks the third straight year the event will not feature any telecasts on ABC after airing select telecasts on the net from '98-09. The event saw gains in primetime among adults 18-34 last year, but was down overall due mostly to lower ratings in weekend dayparts. Listed below is a viewership trend for Winter X Games, dating back to the inaugural event in '97 (THE DAILY).
WINTER X GAMES VIEWERSHIP TREND* |
YEAR | NETWORKS | TELECASTS | AVG. VIEWERS (000) |
'11 | ESPN, ESPN2 | 8 | 998 |
'10 | ESPN, ESPN2 | 8 | 1,188 |
'09 | ESPN, ABC | 11 | 1,398 |
'08 | ESPN, ABC | 11 | 1,336 |
'07 | ESPN, ABC | 9 | 1,135 |
'06 | ESPN, ABC | 9 | 1,304 |
'05 | ESPN, ABC | 7 | 1,001 |
'04 | ESPN, ESPN2, ABC | 8 | 825 |
'03 | ESPN, ESPN2, ABC | 9 | 810 |
'02 | ESPN, ESPN2, ABC | 8 | 649 |
'01 | ESPN, ESPN2, ABC | 8 | 895 |
'00 | ESPN, ESPN2, ABC | 8 | 804 |
'99 | ESPN, ESPN2, ABC | 8 | 461 |
'98 | ESPN, ESPN2, ABC | 9 | 635 |
'97 | ESPN, ESPN2 | 6 | 601 |
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NOTE: * = Does not include late-night telecasts.