ESPN’s first game of the NFL preseason managed a slight increase in viewership.
Thursday’s Bills/Browns NFL preseason game drew 3.9 million viewers on ESPN, up 1% from Jaguars/Bears last year (3.8M), up 31% from Chargers/Bears in 2013 (3.0M), and the network’s second-largest Thursday night audience in the past four years (seven telecasts). Only a 2013 Panthers/Ravens game had more viewers over that span (4.0M).
Despite the slight increase, the game was no match for the Browns’ lone appearance on ESPN last season — a Monday night game against Washington that drew 6.9 million. That game marked Browns QB Johnny Manziel‘s first ESPN appearance since being drafted.
The ESPN telecast drew a 4.4 rating in Cleveland and a 4.1 in Buffalo. The game was simulcast on local affiliates in both markets, earning a 19.3 on Cleveland NBC affiliate WKYC and a 23.1 on Buffalo ABC affiliate WKBW.
(Thu. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily, ESPN)
