ESPY Awards ratings fell for a third straight year.
Wednesday’s ESPY Awards earned a 2.5 rating and 3.9 million viewers on ABC, down 26% in ratings and viewership from last year (3.4, 5.3M) and down 31% and 30% respectively from 2016 (3.6, 5.6M).
The annual awards show posted its lowest rating and viewership since moving to ABC in 2015. Since the 2015 show had a record-high 5.1 and 7.7 million, ratings and viewership have declined in each subsequent year.
Ratings and viewership still exceeded every ESPY Awards on ESPN (1993-2014).
Despite the lower numbers, the ESPYs ranks as the highest rated and most-watched awards show in sports. It topped February’s NFL Honors on NBC, which had a 2.1 and 3.5 million.
With the exception of the NFL Honors, which increased nine percent, every sports awards show over the past year has declined. The ESPYs, Heisman Trophy Presentation, NBA Awards, NHL Awards, NASCAR Awards and College Basketball Awards each dropped double-digits.
The ESPYs posted a 0.9 rating in adults 18-49, down 36% from last year (1.4) and down 47% from 2016 (1.7). It ranked fourth for the night in the demo behind “Big Brother” on CBS (1.4) and “Masterchef” and “24 Hours” on FOX (1.0 each). The telecast also had a 0.6 in adults 18-34 (-40%).
Sports Award Show Viewership, Past Year
