Worldwide Leader’s Ratings Drop Drastically

According to Sports Business Daily, ESPN had it’s lowest primetime ratings in seven years. Compared to last year’s second quarter, the network was down a whopping 32%. ESPN2 also sank 17%, as well as Turner-run NBATV. Where have the viewers gone? Maybe NBCSN, who’s numbers jumped up 17% from last year, or MLB Network with a 20% jump. Actually, the only other sports network to lose was Speed, which is basically running old episodes of “Pimp My Ride” and “Wrecked” until it becomes Fox Sports 1, and ESPN’s drop came before that network’s launch in August.

But surely “First Take,” “PTI,” and those live “SportsCenters” are holding down the fort, right? Probably not, since ESPN also suffered a 20% drop in the 24-hour figures, the worst drop amongst the sports nets. NBCSN, who just added Dan Patrick and Michelle Beadle, had the biggest jump with their best numbers since last year’s Olympics. Speed, which airs actual racing in middays, kept steady, and NBC’s Golf Channel had a record 8% jump as well. Numbers for CBSSN, the only other national network, are not available, as the growing network does not subscribe to Nielson.
Gee, Bristol, maybe you should rethink that whole “Worldwide Leader” thing?

Read more at Sports Business Daily.