Through the first seven weeks of the season, ratings and viewership have increased for Major League Baseball on ESPN.
ESPN has averaged a 1.1 U.S. rating and 1.603 million viewers for 22 Major League Baseball telecasts this season, up a tick in ratings and 7% in viewership from the comparable period last year (1.0, 1.502M).
In particular, the network’s seven Sunday Night Baseball telecasts have averaged a 1.8 U.S. rating and 2.886 million viewers, up 6% and 15%, respectively, from last year (1.7, 2.508M).
This past Sunday, ESPN earned a 2.1 U.S. rating and 3.294 million viewers for Yankees/Red Sox, flat in ratings and up 4% in viewership from the rivals’ lone Sunday night meeting last May (2.1, 3.179M). The game aired directly opposite Heat/Bulls Game 1 on TNT, which drew a 6.2 and 11.109 million viewers.
In addition to the increases overall, ratings have risen by double-digits in several male demographics. In particular, ESPN touted a 23% increase among men 18-34 for its overall coverage, and 32% rise in that demographic for Sunday night games.
(Numbers from espnmediazone3.com, TV By the Numbers)
