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.
