The ESPY Awards again benefited from broadcast television exposure, though not as much as last year.
The 2016 ESPY Awards earned a 3.6 final rating and 5.6 million viewers on ABC Wednesday night, down 29% in ratings and 28% in viewership from last year’s record-high 5.1 and 7.7 million but up 125% and 120%, respectively, from 2014 — when coverage aired on ESPN and ESPN2 (1.6, 2.6M).
Though down from last year, ratings and viewership were the second-highest in the history of the ESPY Awards (dates back to 1993). In 22 editions on cable, the show never surpassed 3.7 million viewers.
Among adults 18-49, the ESPYs earned a 1.7 rating — down 23% from last year’s 2.2.
As was the case last year, the ESPYs aired live in the Eastern and Central time zones and was tape delayed until primetime in the West. Previously, the show aired live in all time zones.
For the night, the ESPYs trailed NBC’s America’s Got Talent (11.8M) and The Night Shift (6.3M) as well as Big Brother on CBS (6.0M). In adults 18-49, it ranked third for the night on television behind America’s Got Talent (2.4) and Big Brother (1.8).
(Wed. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily, Programming Insider)
