ESPN’s U.S. Open Playoff is the Most-Viewed Golf Cable Telecast Ever

ESPN’s coverage of the
2008 U.S. Open playoff on Monday from noon-2 p.m. ET was the
most-viewed golf telecast in cable TV history (4.2 household rating,
4,055,000 household impressions, 4,762,000 viewers). Tiger Woods
defeated Rocco Mediate in a sudden playoff at Torrey Pines. ESPN aired
the first two hours of the playoff, which went into sudden death.
Previously, ESPN’s coverage of the 2008 Masters, which delivered a 3.1
household rating, held the record, averaging 3,014,000 households.
In addition, ESPN’s
coverage of the first two rounds of this year’s U.S. Open was the
most-viewed combined telecasts since 2000. The two day coverage (four
telecasts, Thursday and Friday 1-3 and 5-10 p.m., ET) averaged a 1.8
household rating and 1,780,000 impressions.
The audience on ESPN’s U.S. Open coverage on ESPN.com were also impressive. ESPN.com (Thursday,
June 12 to Monday, June 16) generated more 5.1 million visits (+256%
vs. 2007) and 36.7 million page views (+282%), with the Monday playoff
alone generating nearly 2.4 million visits and 10.7 million page views.
On the Mobile Web,
ESPN’s WAP(wireless web) site averaged more than 2 million unique daily
visitors to golf content during tournament, generating nearly 3 million
page views.