Though down from last year, the first night of the NFL Draft did quite well on ESPN and NFL Network.
First round coverage of the NFL Draft earned roughly 8.8 million viewers combined on ESPN and NFL Network Thursday night, down 29% from last year (12.4M), but up 14% from 2013 (7.7M) and the second-largest audience ever for the event. Only last year’s first round did better.
ESPN alone earned a 4.5 fast-national rating and 7.0 million viewers for its coverage, down 26% in ratings and 29% in viewership from last year (6.1, 9.9M) but up 10% and 13%, respectively, from 2013 (4.1, 6.2M). Ratings and viewership were the third-highest ever for the NFL Draft on ESPN, behind only first round coverage last year and in 2010 (4.6, 7.3M).
The telecast earned ESPN’s largest audience since the College Football National Championship Game in January.
NFL Network chipped in 1.8 million, down 25% from last year (2.4M), up 19% from 2013 (1.5M), and its second-largest audience for the event.
(Thu. numbers from ESPN Media Zone, ShowBuzz Daily)
