ESPN has put a lot of marketing emphasis on the new broadcast trio of Rodriguez, Mendoza and VasgersianESPN Images
ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball” is averaging 1.6 million viewers through the first six games of the season, marking the package’s lowest figure in at least a decade. The audience also is down 30% from 2.3 million viewers last season. The sharp drop can be attributed in part to MLB’s change to the opening part of the schedule this year. This season, all teams started on the same day (Thursday, March 29), meaning there were three games before the first “SNB” telecast. Last year, ESPN had the benefit of the exclusive season opener on a Sunday night, with an added bonus of the Cubs in that game just off their first World Series title in 108 years. Excluding that Cubs opener from last year, “SNB” is down 20%. Also hurting this year’s number were two rain delays and a 14-inning affair for Cubs-Cardinals this past Sunday. ESPN has put a lot of marketing emphasis -- both before the start of the season and during the first few weeks -- on the franchise's new broadcast booth of Matt Vasgersian, Alex Rodriguez and Jessica Mendoza. Despite the decline for “SNB,” ESPN’s “Baseball Tonight: Sunday Night Countdown” is seeing an increase in viewership, as the pregame show has not had to compete head-to-head with some NBA Playoff matchups, as “SNB” itself has had.
TALKING SHOP: Rodriguez appeared on NBC's "The Tonight Show" on Thursday, where host Jimmy Fallon said he wanted to talk to the former All-Star about "one of a thousand jobs that you have right now." He noted Rodriguez is on ESPN and Fox as an MLB analyst, saying he is a "great commentator." Rodriguez said he had "no idea" how he ended up working for both networks, adding he was "not optimistic when the idea came to me." He said he is "thankful" to both Disney and Fox for making the arrangement work.
