Despite rain delays, ESPN put up solid numbers for coverage of the U.S. Open last week.
First round coverage of the U.S. Open earned a 1.6 U.S. rating and 2.2 million viewers on ESPN Thursday evening, up 30% in viewership from last year (1.7M), and the network’s largest audience for a Thursday telecast of the event since 2002 (2.5M). Keep in mind last year’s coverage went further into primetime, as the tournament took place on the West Coast.
Earlier in the day, rain-delayed afternoon coverage drew a 1.0 and 1.3 million — down 16% in viewership from last year (1.6M).
Second round action on Friday evening drew a 1.7 U.S. rating and nearly 2.5 million viewers, down 32% in viewership from last year’s comparable telecast (3.6M), which was the network’s most-viewed ever for a regular round at the event.
Friday’s early window drew a 1.3 and almost 1.7 million, up 5% in viewership from last year (1.6M).
(This year’s numbers from ESPN)
