Many of ESPN’s weekday daytime studio shows saw audience growth in the last month over March 2017 (P2+). In addition, a number of shows saw an increase among viewers 18-34, including four separate editions of SportsCenter.
ESPN’s First Take earned its most-viewed February ever, across multiple demos including viewers P2+, M18-49, M25-29, P18-34 and P18-49. The month also notched a 16% overall audience gain over the previous year, averaging 499,000 viewers (P2+, Nielsen’s February 2018: January 29 – February 25, Nielsen’s February 2017: January 30 – February 26).
ESPN’s First Take viewership was up 16% for Wednesday, Jan. 31, through Friday, Feb. 2, while Stephen A. Smith was live from Minnesota for Super Bowl LII, compared to Wednesday – Friday before the Super Bowl last year (461,000 vs. 398,000, P2+, according to Nielsen). The all-star guest lineup for the three shows included Kevin Hart, Snoop Dogg, Todd Gurley, Marcus Mariota, Travis Kelce, Dan Marino, Emmitt Smith, Von Miller, Kareem Hunt and more debating the Super Bowl, LeBron James and other NFL and NBA topics.
In January, ESPN’s First Take enjoyed a 7% increase in overall viewership over the previous year, averaging 503,000 viewers (P2+, Nielsen’s January 2018: January 1-28, Nielsen’s January 2017: December 26, 2016 – January 29). The month also saw an increase of 13% for women (F2+) compared to the same month last year (103,000 vs. 91,000) and an increase of 6% for men (M2+, 399,000 vs 377,000). This increase comes after First Take capped off 2017 with its most-viewed year ever.
On Monday, Jan. 29 ahead of Super Bowl LII, ESPN will debut its first episodic digital show that will be streamed three times per week exclusively on Facebook Watch. First Take: Your Take will tailor ESPN’s popular First Take television program to Facebook’s new social video platform with content that incorporates viewer interaction and engagement.
On Tuesday, Jan. 2, ESPN’s First Take equaled its highest-rated show ever with a 0.6 household rating, tied for its best ever with November 4 and January 16 of 2017 and January 10, 2016. On the same Tuesday a year ago, First Take moved to ESPN from ESPN2 and rated a strong 0.5. The day also ranks third in audience with an average of 823,000 viewers (P2+), behind December 30, 2013 (880,000), and January 16, 2017 (851,000).
ESPN’s First Take recorded its most-viewed year ever (show launched in 2005 as Cold Pizza through 2007) with 449,000 viewers (P2+). Overall, the audience was 25% larger than last year (449,000 vs. 359,000). Among men 18-34, First Take was up 29% (106,000 vs. 82,000).
In November, ESPN’s First Take enjoyed a 70% increase in overall viewership over the previous year, averaging 511,000 viewers (P2+, Nielsen’s November: October 30 – November 26). The month also saw an increase of 91% for men 18-34 compared to the same month last year (109,000 vs. 57,000).
SportsCenter from Parris Island, First Take from San Diego
Armed Forces Classic at Ramstein Air Base in Germany
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