While viewership dipped on ESPN, the Euro 2016 final delivered a record combined audience.
Sunday’s Portugal/France Euro 2016 final had a combined 3.1 final rating and 5.9 million viewers on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, down 6% in ratings but up 2% in viewership from Spain/Italy in 2012 (3.3, 5.8M). The combined audience is the highest ever for the UEFA European Championship on the ESPN family of networks (dates back to 2008).
Figures do not include pre-match coverage or the streaming audience on the WatchESPN app (237K).
ESPN’s English-language coverage earned a 2.5 and 4.5 million, down a tick and 1%, respectively, from 2012 (2.6, 4.6M). Its telecast had a 1.9 rating among adults 18-49 (-5%) and a 1.8 in adults 18-34 (-14%). ESPN Deportes made up for ESPN’s shortfall, attracting 1.4 million viewers — up 14% from 2012 (1.2M).
Miami-Ft. Lauderdale led all markets with an approximate 8.3 rating across ESPN (4.8) and ESPN Deportes (3.5). On ESPN alone, New York was the top market with a 5.9.
Despite the record numbers, Portugal’s win was still no match for the Copa America final last month. The Chile/Argentina match scored roughly 9.8 million viewers across Univision and Fox Sports 1.
(Sun. numbers from ESPN, ESPN Media Zone)
