The numbers may have been down from last year, but the 2009 MLB Home Run Derby put up strong numbers on Monday night.
The 2009 MLB Home Run Derby drew a 5.1 U.S. rating and 8.3 million viewers on ESPN Monday night, down 7% and 10%, respectively, from a 5.5 and 9.2 million last year, but up 21% and 22%, respectively, from a 4.2 and 6.8 million in ’07.
This marks the second-highest rated and second-most viewed Home Run Derby of the decade. Additionally, this is only the second time since 2000 that the Derby has topped 8 million viewers.
The 8.3 million viewers makes the Home Run Derby the 9th most-viewed sporting event of the year on cable, behind 8 NBA Playoff games. Compared to its All-Star Competition, the Derby outdrew the NBA All-Star Game (7.6 million) and NBA All-Star Saturday Night (6.6 million), but finished behind the Pro Bowl (8.8 million). The Derby also outdrew Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals on NBC (8.0 million) and the Indianapolis 500 on ABC (6.3 million).
Most viewed sports programs of the year on cable.
| Date | Event | Net | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue., 5/26/09 | Cavaliers/Magic Game 4 | TNT |
10.1 mil
|
| Thu., 5/28/09 | Magic/Cavaliers Game 5 | TNT |
10.0 mil
|
| Mon., 5/25/09 | Lakers/Nuggets Game 4 | ESPN |
9.7 mil
|
| Wed., 5/27/09 | Nuggets/Lakers Game 5 | ESPN |
9.2 mil
|
| Sun., 5/24/09 | Cavaliers/Magic Game 3 | TNT |
9.0 mil
|
| Fri., 5/29/09 | Lakers/Nuggets Game 6 | ESPN |
8.5 mil
|
| Sun., 5/17/09 | Magic/Celtics Game 7 | TNT |
8.4 mil
|
| Sat., 5/30/09 | Cavaliers/Magic Game 6 | TNT |
8.4 mil
|
| Mon., 7/13/09 | MLB Home Run Derby | ESPN |
8.3 mil
|
| Tue., 5/19/09 | Nuggets/Lakers Game 1 | ESPN |
8.1 mil
|
Source: ESPN
