Menu
Media

ESPN Viewership Slightly Lower In Q2; FS1, Univision Deportes, Golf Channel Set Records

ESPN saw a slight decline in Q2 viewership, while NBA TV benefited from buzz around the end of the regular season and playoffs. ESPN easily led all sports again with an average of 1.54 million viewers in primetime during Q2, but it was the net’s lowest mark for April/May/June since ’13 and down 1% from the same period last year. The net ranked No. 6 in primetime among all cable nets, just behind HGTV. ESPN also saw its lowest total-day figure in at least a decade, averaging 676,000 viewers, which was down 1% from Q2 ’15. The net ranked No. 10 among all cable nets in total-day audience, just behind Nick-At-Nite.

HOOPS HYPE
: NBA TV had its second-best primetime Q2 audience on record -- behind only ’14 -- and best total-day audience since becoming Nielsen-rated. Primetime viewership for NBA TV was up 26% in Q2 compared to the same period last year, while total-day was up 15%. The end of the NBA regular season and NBA Playoffs also helped TNT to the top spot in primetime for Q2 among all nets -- 5% ahead of No. 2 Fox News.

SOCCER SHOTS
: FS1 had its best Q2 on record, fueled by coverage of the Copa America Centenario. The net averaged 482,000 viewers in primetime, up 6%, while total-day viewership was up 9%. The net saw its five best men’s soccer audiences during the Copa America. Univision Deportes also had its best Q2 as it covered Copa America. The net’s primetime viewership last quarter (352,000 viewers) was higher than ESPN2, MLB Network, NBA TV or Golf Channel. The Spanish-language channel also saw a 127% increase in total-day viewership. While FS1 and UDN saw gains, beIN Sports and Fox Deportes saw sharp drops. beIN Sports was down 68% in primetime and down 45% in total day. Fox Deportes also slid 9% in primetime and 16% in total day.

AT THE TURN: Golf Channel this year saw the best Q2 total-day viewership in its 21-year history. Viewership was up slightly from the same period last year. The net's audience in Q2 this year was driven by increases for PGA Tour coverage (+5%), PGA Tour Champions (+20%), European Tour (+8%), LPGA (+6%) and the NCAA Men's Golf Championships (+139%). The net also is likely set up for its best Q3 on record, which will be highlighted by the net's first coverage of a major (British Open), Olympic golf from Rio, the FedExCup Playoffs and the Ryder Cup. Primetime viewership for Golf Channel in Q2 was up 7%, but not a record for the net.

Q2 CABLE SPORTS NET VIEWERSHIP
PRIMETIME
'16 (000)
'15 (000)
'14 (000)
'13 (000)
'12 (000)
ESPN
1,538
1,553
1,751
1,348
1,987
NBCSN
629
679
725
619
530
FS1*
482
453
259
206
226
Univision Deportes
352
126
137
n/a
n/a
ESPN2
314
358
461
415
470
MLB Network
197
214
208
184
154
Golf Channel
158
147
158
162
164
NFL Network
122
119
132
114
110
NBA TV
112
89
127
98
111
ESPNU
68
73
85
84
n/a
Fox Deportes
59
65
68
n/a
n/a
FS2*
41
41
23
39
35
beIN Sports
12
37
n/a
n/a
n/a
TOTAL DAY
'16 (000)
'15 (000)
'14 (000)
'13 (000)
'12 (000)
ESPN
676
686
911
715
892
ESPN2
236
223
255
244
268
FS1*
227
208
114
128
128
NBCSN
169
176
195
155
131
Golf Channel
126
125
122
125
116
MLB Network
110
117
105
83
73
Univision Deportes
93
41
68
n/a
n/a
NFL Network
73
73
79
75
70
NBA TV
60
52
59
52
59
ESPNU
42
42
46
44
n/a
Fox Deportes
27
32
37
n/a
n/a
FS2*
23
23
16
31
27
beIN Sports
12
22
n/a
n/a
n/a
 

CHART NOTES: The Q2 measuring period was March 28-June 26. * = Speed became FS1 on Aug. 17, 2013, and Fuel TV on the same day became FS2.

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2016/06/30/Media/Cable-Q2.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2016/06/30/Media/Cable-Q2.aspx

CLOSE