Live primetime sporting events were a big boost for ESPN and NBCSN in April. ESPN averaged 1.45 million viewers in primetime last month, up 8% compared to the same month last year. The Worldwide Leader was buoyed by gains for NBA Playoff coverage, as well as increases for each night with MLB games (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday). Similarly, the NHL Playoffs saw gains in the first round that helped NBCSN see a 12% increase in primetime in April. By comparison, FS1 in primetime in April saw a 24% decline in viewership, while ESPN2 was down 17%. For total-day audience, ESPN was actually down 2%, while FS1 was down 15% and ESPN2 was down 26%. NBCSN saw total-day viewership last month rise 8%. ESPN’s total-day drop was hampered by an 11% drop during the 9:30am-7:00pm ET window in April -- a window that is without much in the way of live sports. ESPN2 in the same window was down 44%. It was this daytime window that actually helped FS1, as the net was up 24% in viewership.
TALK SOUP: “First Take” has averaged 445,000 viewers since it was moved to ESPN from ESPN2 on Jan. 3. That is up 12% from the same period a year ago on the Deuce. The show also has seen a 17% gain among males 18-34. The show goes head-to-head with FS1’s “Undisputed,” which has averaged 108,000 viewers since Jan. 3. That figure is actually below what “First Take” has been averaging for its replay on ESPN2 from 1:00-3:00pm (155,000 viewers) since Jan. 3.
KEEPING IT BROCKMIRE: IFC after five episodes of the baseball-themed show “Brockmire” is averaging 276,000 viewers for debut episodes on Wednesday nights at 10:00pm ET. That viewership level is almost even with what ESPN/ESPN2 averaged for MLS regular-season games in ’16 (279,000 viewers).
The chart below lists final audience figures for select recent sports telecasts.
| TELECAST |
DATE
|
NET
|
TIME (ET)
|
RAT.
|
VIEWERS
(000)
|
NBA Western Conference First Round:
Jazz-Clippers: Game 7 |
4/30
|
ABC
|
3:37-6:17pm
|
3.7
|
5,838
|
| NFL Draft: Round 1 |
4/27
|
ESPN
|
7:59-11:49pm
|
4.0
|
6,695
|
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series:
Toyota Owners 400 (Richmond) |
4/30
|
Fox
|
2:15-5:30pm
|
2.9
|
4,579
|
NBA Eastern Conference First Round:
Celtics-Bulls: Game 5 |
4/26
|
TNT
|
8:43-11:13pm
|
2.7
|
4,285
|
NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals:
Wizards-Celtics: Game 1 |
4/30
|
ABC
|
12:59-3:37pm
|
2.8
|
4,190
|
NBA Western Conference First Round:
Rockets-Thunder: Game 5 |
4/25
|
TNT
|
8:09-10:53pm
|
2.7
|
4,158
|
NBA Western Conference First Round:
Warriors-Trail Blazers: Game 4 |
4/24
|
TNT
|
10:45pm-1:17am
|
2.4
|
3,923
|
NBA Western Conference First Round:
Jazz-Clippers: Game 5 |
4/25
|
TNT
|
10:53pm-1:28am
|
2.1
|
3,187
|
NBA Western Conference First Round:
Spurs-Grizzlies: Game 6 |
4/27
|
TNT
|
9:56pm-12:26am
|
2.0
|
3,051
|
NBA Eastern Conference First Round:
Wizards-Hawks: Game 4 |
4/24
|
TNT
|
8:09-10:45pm
|
1.9
|
3,025
|
NBA Western Conference First Round:
Jazz-Clippers: Game 6 |
4/28
|
ESPN
|
10:34pm-1:24am
|
1.8
|
2,836
|
NHL Eastern Conference Semifinals:
Penguins-Capitals: Game 2 |
4/29
|
NBC
|
8:18-11:12pm
|
1.5
|
2,556
|
| NFL Draft: Round 1 |
4/27
|
NFL Net
|
8:00-11:48pm
|
1.5
|
2,531
|
| MLB: Cubs-Red Sox |
4/30
|
ESPN
|
8:00-11:39pm
|
1.6
|
2,453
|
PGA Tour: Zurich Classic of New Orleans:
Final Round* |
4/30
|
CBS
|
3:00-7:00pm
|
1.1
|
1,606
|
NHL Western Conference Semifinals:
Blues-Predators: Game 3 |
4/30
|
NBC
|
3:15-6:00pm
|
1.0
|
1,590
|
PGA Tour: Zurich Classic of New Orleans:
Third Round |
4/29
|
CBS
|
3:00-6:00pm
|
1.1
|
1,549
|
NHL Eastern Conference Semifinals:
Rangers-Senators: Game 2 |
4/29
|
NBC
|
3:15-7:15pm
|
1.0
|
1,542
|
| Liga MX: Club America-Atlas |
4/29
|
Univision
|
10:01pm-12:09am
|
0.7
|
1,271
|
| EPL: Crystal Palace-Burnley |
4/29
|
NBC
|
12:30-2:30pm
|
0.5
|
651
|
| Monster Energy Supercross (MetLife Stadium) |
4/29
|
Fox
|
5:00-8:15pm
|
0.4
|
647
|
| Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (taped) |
4/30
|
CBS
|
1:00-2:00pm
|
0.4
|
642
|
| "30 for 30": "One and Not Done" |
4/29
|
ABC
|
3:00-5:00pm
|
0.4
|
579
|
| U.S. Open Polo Championship (taped) |
4/30
|
CBS
|
2:00-3:00pm
|
0.4
|
537
|
| "World of X Games: WSL" |
4/29
|
ABC
|
2:00-3:00pm
|
0.4
|
528
|
| Red Bull Global Rallycross (taped) |
4/30
|
NBC
|
1:00-3:00pm
|
0.3
|
481
|
| Liga MX: Veracruz-Monterrey |
4/28
|
Azteca
|
9:20-11:31pm
|
0.2
|
349
|
| Bundesliga: Wolfsburg-Bayern Munich |
4/29
|
Fox
|
12:30-2:30pm
|
0.2
|
308
|
NOTE: * = Event finished on Monday due to weather and darkness.
