The World Cup crushed the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest head-to-head and then gave the event a huge lead-in.
An encore presentation of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest earned 2.8 million viewers on ESPN2 Friday afternoon, up 142% from last year (1.1M) and up 114% from 2011, when coverage aired on ESPN in a later timeslot (1.3M). Those telecasts aired live.
The encore ranks as the most-watched Hot Dog Eating Contest telecast ever, topping the previous high of 1.9 million for live coverage in 2011. The record was no doubt thanks to a direct lead-in from the Germany/France World Cup match (4.9M), which earned the largest audience in the history of ESPN2.
Keep in mind the traditional live broadcast of the event aired on ESPNEWS — opposite both the World Cup on ESPN2 and Wimbledon on ESPN — earning a mere 0.3 overnight rating (final numbers were not immediately available).
(Fri. numbers from TV By the Numbers; additional info from Sports Business Daily)
