ESPN drew a massive audience for last night’s Home Run Derby.
The Derby, won by Justin Morneau, drew 9.1 million viewers on ESPN Monday night, up 34% from last year and the largest audience for the event since 1998. No other Home Run Derby this decade has drawn more than 7.7 million viewers.
The 9.1 million viewers puts the Home Run Derby in the upper echelon of sporting events on cable. The most viewed NBA Playoff game on cable this year drew 7.3 million viewers (Lakers/Spurs, 5/27/08, TNT), while the top college football game drew 7.5 million (Chick Fil’ A Bowl, 12/31/07, ESPN). The Home Run Derby drew more viewers than the NBA All Star Game on TNT (6.3 million viewers) and came close to the Pro Bowl (10 million viewers), which aired on broadcast this year.
Additionally, the 9.1 million viewers is more than all but one MLB playoff broadcast drew on cable last season. Only Game 4 of the Indians/Yankees series drew more viewers (9.2 million, 10/8/07).
The Home Run Derby also beat the highly-touted premiere of The Closer on TNT, which drew 7.8 million viewers on Monday.
In the past year (since July 2007), the four most viewed non-NFL sports telecasts on cable have each been Major League Baseball telecasts that involved the Yankees in some way.
10 Most viewed sports telecasts on cable since July ’07.
* excluding the NFL
9.2 million: AL Division Series, Indians/Yankees Game 4 (10/8/07, 7:30 PM TBS)
9.1 million: 2008 Home Run Derby (7/14/08, 8:19 PM ESPN)
8.5 million: AL Division Series, Indians/Yankees Game 3 (10/7/07, 6:30 PM TBS)
7.6 million: AL Division Series, Yankees/Indians Game 2 (10/5/07, 5 PM TBS)
7.5 million: NCAA Football, Chick Fil’ A Bowl (12/31/07, ESPN)
7.3 million: NBA Playoffs, Lakers/Spurs Game 4 (5/27/08, 9 PM TNT)
6.8 million: NBA Playoffs, Spurs/Lakers Game 5 (5/29/08, 9 PM TNT)
6.7 million: AL Division Series, Yankees/Indians Game 1 (10/4/07, 6:30 PM TBS)
6.7 million: NCAA: FSU/Clemson (9/3/07, 8 PM ESPN)
6.5 million: NBA Playoffs, Spurs/Hornets Game 7 (5/19/08, 8:30 PM TNT)
