ESPN Continues to Lead Cable in Delivering Key Young Males for Advertisers

October 3, 2017

Network has Led in Third Quarter since 2006, Has Led Every Quarter for 17 Straight

In the third quarter of 2017 (June 26 – September 24, per Nielsen), ESPN led all full-time cable networks in total day and in prime-time delivery of the three key young male demographic groups, males age 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54.

ESPN has a long history leading cable networks in the July-September time period: ESPN has been the No. 1 full-time cable network in the third quarter among those three important groups in both Total Day and Prime Time for 12 consecutive years (3Q06-3Q17).

Looking at each quarter of the year, ESPN has now been the No. 1 full-time cable network among M18-34, M18-49, and M25-54 for 17 consecutive quarters (3Q 2013 – 3Q 2017).

ESPN’s historic strengths in the third quarter – particularly among the young male demographic groups that advertisers covet – include MLB’s Home Run Derby, the Little League World Series, tennis’ US Open and the start of football – both college and Monday Night Football – in September. New standouts in 2017 were the NBA Summer League and top-level boxing matches.

College Football

Through the first five weeks of the season, ESPN/ABC have combined to air the top five (and seven of the top eight) most-watched CFB games this season across all networks. Additionally, ESPN and ESPN2 have combined to televise 19 of the 20 most-viewed games on cable.

MNF

Through week 3 (four games), ESPN’s Monday Night Football was up 10% in total impressions (P2+) vs. 2016.
For the first three weeks of the season, MNF has helped ESPN win the night across all networks (both broadcast and cable) among HHs, viewers and all key male & adult demos.

US Open

Roger Federer’s return and strong performances from the American women helped the 2017 US Open’s Total Live Audience increase 8% to 968,000 across ESPN/ESPN2 vs. 2016.
The all-American US Open Women’s Final averaged a Total Live Audience of 1.9 million, making it the most-viewed Women’s Final in ESPN history.

Summer League

Boosted by interest in the LA Lakers and Lonzo Ball, the 2017 NBA Summer was the most-watched Summer League ever across TV and Streaming.
Across ESPN, ESPN2, and linear streaming, the 2017 Summer League averaged a Total Live Audience of 454K, up +54% vs. 2016.

Boxing

In the third quarter, ESPN had cable television’s three most-watched cable telecasts of the year, with Pacquiao-Horn, the Pacquiao-Horn undercards, and Crawford-Indongo.
The July 1 Pacquiao-Horn telecast averaged a 1.6 HH rating and 2,812,000 viewers, marking the highest-rated and most-watched boxing telecast on cable television since 2006 and ESPN’s highest-rated boxing telecast since 1995.

Home Run Derby: