The third major of the golf season got off to a better start on ESPN.
First round coverage of the British Open drew 1.3 million viewers on ESPN Thursday morning and afternoon, up 8% from last year (1.2M) but down 10% from 2013 (1.4M). That does not include early morning coverage from 4-7 AM ET, which is measured as a separate program.
Thursday’s telecast continued a noteworthy streak. All nine rounds of this year’s major golf tournaments have scored a year-over-year increase in viewership — with the caveat that last year’s tournaments put up historically poor numbers.
Encore coverage of the first round drew 858,000 viewers later in the afternoon and 643,000 in primetime.
(Thu. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily)
