The first game of the 2009 baseball season saw declining numbers on ESPN2.
The Braves’ win over the defending champion Phillies drew a 2.1 U.S. rating (2.5 cable) and 3.3 million viewers on ESPN2 last Sunday night, down 13% in ratings and 9% in viewership from a 2.4 (2.8 cable) and 3.7 million for Braves/Nationals on ESPN last year.
Compared to the last Opening Night telecast to air on ESPN2, the 2.1 rating is off 9% from a 2.3 for Mets/Cardinals in ’07.
Excluding the rained-out ’06 game, the 2.1 rating is the lowest for the MLB Opening Night telecast since Red Sox/Orioles drew a 1.5 in ’04.
Despite the lower numbers, Braves/Phillies did top both Women’s Final Four telecasts on ESPN.
