The '17 NFL Draft saw viewership climb 6% across ESPN, ESPN2 and NFL Network compared to '16, fueled by record figures for the league-owned net for the second straight year. The combined average figure for the three nets was 4.6 million viewers over the three days from Philadelphia, marking the second-best figure since NFL Net joined ESPN as a Draft broadcaster in '06. NFL Net alone averaged 1.5 million viewers, a record for the net's Draft coverage. Each day of the event had record viewership on NFL Net, led by 2.5 million viewers for Thursday's first round. Perhaps even more significant for NFL Net is that it is gaining in audience share for the event. For three days of coverage, NFL Net's viewership figure accounted for 33% of the Draft audience, up from 30% last year and up from 26% in '15. Meanwhile, ESPN and ESPN2 also saw a slight uptick for three days of coverage. The league's longtime Draft partner averaged 3.06 million viewers, up from 3.02 million viewers last year, and up from 2.93 million viewers in '15. Round 1 on Thursday night finished with 6.68 million viewers on Thursday night, up from 6.29 million viewers last year, but down from 7.03 million viewers in '15. Looking at ESPN's Total Live Audience for the Draft (Rounds 1-7), which includes streaming, the net averaged 3.18 million viewers, up 2% from 3.11 million last year. Digital coverage of the Draft also helped Bleacher Report's traffic numbers. The Turner-owned site set a new daily traffic record on Friday, fueled by NFL Draft coverage. The site and its app had a 41% increase in unique visitors during the first two days of the Draft, while interactions on Bleacher Report's social media platforms were up 78% (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
ANIMAL PLANET: In Philadelphia, Rob Tornoe noted on Saturday, the Colts "turned to two great apes from the Indianapolis Zoo to announce their picks on the NFL Network." While most viewers "seemed to think the scenes were charming and mostly harmless," NFL Net's Mike Mayock was "not pleased with the network’s decision to repeatedly cut back to the zoo." Mayock: "If we’re going back to the zoo, I’m walking off the desk. I’ve about had it with the zoo. Enough. I mean, is this good TV?" (PHILLY.com, 4/30). In Tampa, Tom Jones writes it was "good" that Mayock took the Colts to task for using the zoo. Jones: "Mayock is right. The Colts made a mockery of a great moment in the lives of several draft prospects." Mayock said, "We've got to be a little respectful. It's a big day for (fourth round pick) Grover Stewart, and rather than talking about that chimp, let's get back to some football here" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 5/1).
DON'T BURY THE LEAD: Jones writes ESPN "made an interesting choice" when the Bengals selected former Oklahoma RB Joe Mixon. The net "showed video of his assault" and "warned viewers of the graphic violence and then discussed Mixon while showing the video." ESPN should be "applauded for the decision." Video of the event was "available and viewers should be reminded in the strongest way possible why Mixon slipped in the draft and the questions teams have about him" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 5/1).
DOUBLE MEANING: In N.Y., Brett Bodner notes the Broncos drafted QB Chad Kelly with the final pick, and NFL Network “described him as a ‘fearless gunslinger' -- a poor choice of words considering his past.” Kelly in '14 was “involved in an off-field incident at a nightclub in Buffalo where he got into a fight with two bouncers.” He allegedly told the bouncers he was going to get a gun from his car and "spray this place” (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 5/1).
