ESPN earned its smallest MLB audience of the season on Wednesday. In other news, MLB Network got off to a good start to the season, and the Kentucky Oaks scored a big increase on NBCSN.
Season-Low Audience For MLB on ESPN
- The Orioles/Mets Wednesday Night Baseball game drew 365,000 viewers on ESPN, down 3% from rain delay coverage of Rays/Red Sox last year (377K), down 35% from Nationals/Braves in 2013 (564K), and the least-watched MLB telecast of the season on ESPN or ESPN2 (19 telecasts). The previous low was 419,000 for Mariners/Dodgers on ESPN2 last month. (via ShowBuzz Daily)
MLB Network Has Good Start to Season
- MLB Network averaged 290,000 viewers for live MLB telecasts during the month of April, up 9% from last year. The first four weeks of the season ranked as the most-watched four-week stretch in network history (dates back to 2009). (MLB Network via TV By the Numbers)
Solid Viewership Gains For Kentucky Oaks
- Last Friday’s Kentucky Oaks drew 275,000 viewers on NBCSN, up 30% from last year (212K) and up 38% from 2013 (200K). As previously reported, the Kentucky Derby Draw also had significant growth, and the race itself scored a slight increase. (via Sports TV Ratings)
