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Ratings News and Notes

Boosted by following the Heisman Trophy Presentation, the Dec. 9 edition of “Top Rank Boxing” featuring the marquee bout of Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux drew a combined 1.85 million viewers across ESPN and ESPN Deportes, ranking as the second most-watched boxing telecast on cable since 2012, behind only “Top Rank Boxing” (also on ESPN) from July 1, 2017 with Manny Pacquiao vs. Jeff Horn. Each of the four fight cards on Dec. 9 registered at least 1.63 million viewers: Vasiliy Lomachenko/Guillermo Rigondeaux (2.114 million), Shakur Stevenson/Oscar Mendoza (1.687 million), Chris Diaz/Bryant Cruz (1.647 million), Michael Conlan/Luis Fernando Molina (1.635 million). Prior to Dec. 9, the most-watched bout of Lomachenko’s career was his win over Jason Sosa from Apr. 8, 2017 on HBO (832,000 viewers). ESPN was home to the top twelve most-watched boxing fights on cable television in 2017; Lomachenko-Rigondeaux ranks third for the year. (Source: ESPN)

Toronto FC’s 2-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders in the “2017 MLS Cup” from Saturday, Dec. 9 drew 803,000 viewers for ESPN. The TV market of Seattle-Tacoma proved potent for the league once again, as it was the top local market for both MLS Cup (7.0 rating) and the entire MLS playoffs on ESPN (2.3 rating). Seattle’s 7.0 rating ranks as the second-highest local market rating for MLS Cup on ESPN networks since 2006. Only the Portland, Ore. market back in 2015 (7.3 rating) delivered a better local rating for an ESPN-televised MLS Cup. Overall, ESPN posted its most-viewed MLS playoffs (which averaged 408,000 viewers) since 2014, while the league’s seven most-viewed English-language playoff matches in 2017 aired on ESPN networks. (Source: ESPN)

ESPN Top 25 (and Select) Programs

Week of Dec. 4-10, 2017
ESPN ratings for December 4-10, 2017
Click on image grid for larger view

ESPN’s daily programs viewership averages for the week:

  • “First Take” (ESPN, Dec. 4-8 10 a.m.): 484,000 (253,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Outside the Lines: First Report” (ESPN, Dec. 4-8): 356,000 (176,000 adults 18-49)
  • “NFL Live” (ESPN, Dec. 4-8): 399,000 (189,000 adults 18-49)
  • “NBA: The Jump” (ESPN, Dec. 5-8): 346,000 (177,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsNation” (ESPN, Dec. 4-8): 356,000 (191,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Highly Questionable” (ESPN, Dec. 4-8): 458,000 (228,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Around the Horn” (ESPN, Dec. 4-8): 558,000 (243,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Pardon the Interruption” (ESPN, Dec. 4-8): 857,000 (362,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsCenter” (ESPN, Dec. 4-8 7 a.m.): 358,000 (206,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsCenter” (ESPN, Dec. 4-8 8 a.m.): 342,000 (190,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsCenter” (ESPN, Dec. 4-8 9 a.m.): 365,000 (214,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsCenter” (ESPN, Dec. 4-8 noon): 398,000 (212,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsCenter” (ESPN, Dec. 5-8 6 p.m.): 537,000 (290,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsCenter” (ESPN, Dec. 7 & 10 11 p.m.): 262,000 (135,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsCenter” (ESPN, Dec. 4-5 & 7-10 midnight): 901,000 (458,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsCenter at Night” (ESPN, Dec. 5-10 1 a.m.): 561,000 (325,000 adults 18-49)

ESPN2 Top 25 (and Select) Programs

Week of Dec. 4-10, 2017
ESPN2 ratings for December 4-10, 2017
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ESPN2’s daily show viewership averages for the week:

  • “Mike & Mike in the Morning” (ESPN2, Dec. 4-8): 202,000 (104,000 adults 18-49)
  • “College Football Live” (ESPN2, Dec. 4-8): 100,000 (54,000 adults 18-49)
  • “MLB Network’s Intentional Talk” (ESPN2, Dec. 4-8): 87,000 (44,000 adults 18-49)
  • “The Paul Finebaum Show” (ESPN2, Dec. 4-8): 121,000 (62,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Daily Fantasy Football” (ESPN2, Dec. 4-8): 68,000 (37,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Jalen & Jacoby” (ESPN2, Dec. 4-5 late night): 112,000 (66,000 adults 18-49)
  • “Nacion ESPN” (ESPN2, late Dec. 7): 63,000 (32,000 adults 18-49)
  • “NBA: The Jump” (ESPN2, Dec. 4): 144,000 (78,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsNation” (ESPN2, Dec. 4): 162,000 (92,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsCenter” (ESPN2, Dec. 4-8 10 a.m.): 128,000 (71,000 adults 18-49)
  • “SportsCenter” (ESPN2, Dec. 4-8 11 a.m.): 129,000 (74,000 adults 18-49)

ESPNU Top 25 (and Select) Programs

Week of Dec. 4-10, 2017
ESPNU ratings for December 4-10, 2017
Click on image grid for larger view

ESPNU’s daily show viewership averages for the week:

  • “The Dan Le Batard Show” (ESPNU, Dec. 4-8): 22,000 (14,000 adults 18-49)

Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research

About Douglas Pucci

Douglas Pucci is a contributor to Programming Insider and blogger at Son of the Bronx.