Ratings Roundup: Most Watched MLB Spring Training in 7 Years, Up 29% from 2022

Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week’s edition, Super Bowl LVII is one of the top three most watched Super Bowls of all time; Virginia vs UNC mens basketball game is one of ESPN’s most watched college game this week with 1.9M viewers.

ESPN’s Most-Watched MLB Spring Training Broadcast In Seven Years: New York Mets vs. St. Louis Cardinals Averaged 423,000 Viewers on Monday Afternoon 

According to Nielsen, the New York Mets vs. St. Louis Cardinals game on Monday afternoon, Feb. 27, was ESPN’s most-watched MLB spring training broadcast in seven years – since a primetime broadcast of a Chicago Cubs vs. San Francisco Giants game – in 2016. Monday’s broadcast averaged 423,000 viewers, peaking with 475,000 viewers at 2:30 p.m. ET.

The Mets vs. Cardinals game was up 44 percent from ESPN’s 2021 spring training viewership average. ESPN did not carry spring training games in 2022.

The Sunday Night Baseball team of Karl Ravech, analysts Eduardo Perez and World Series Champion David Cone provided commentary for Monday’s game, with Buster Olney reporting. ESPN’s spring training coverage continues on Mar. 1.

ESPN’s Most-Watched MLB Spring Training in Seven Years; Up 29 Percent Vs. ESPN’s Last Spring Training Games (2021)

ESPN had its most-watched MLB spring training in seven years, according to Nielsen. The four-game afternoon slate averaged 378,000 viewers, up 29 percent from 2021. ESPN did not air spring training games in 2022. It was the highest viewership for ESPN’s spring training coverage since the 2016 slate which featured the Tampa Bay Rays vs. the Cuba national team in Havana, Cuba.

The Feb. 27 matchup between the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals was ESPN’s most-watched game of the week, averaging 423,000 viewers for the 1 p.m. ET start. It was also the most-watched ESPN spring training game since 2016.

In addition, it was ESPN’s most-watched spring training for several individual teams:

• Most-watched Houston Astros game since 2009;
• Most-watched New York Mets game since 2012;
• Most-watched St. Louis Cardinals game since 2014.

NBA Today Most-Watched February in Four Years

Averaged 326K viewers. up 4% vs February 2022

Golden State Warriors Vs. Los Angeles Lakers on ABC Draws Largest Non-Christmas Regular Season NBA Audience on Any Network in Four Years

Sunday’s Los Angeles Lakers victory over the Golden State Warriors on ABC generated the largest non-Christmas regular season NBA audience in four years, since the two teams met on Feb. 2, 2019. According to Nielsen, the broadcast averaged nearly four million viewers (3,950,000), peaking with 5,411,000 viewers from 6-6:15 p.m. ET. The broadcast was up 65 percent from last year’s ABC NBA Sunday Showcase season average.

Additionally, the Phoenix Suns victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday averaged 2,814,000 viewers, up 18 percent from last year’s ABC NBA Sunday Showcase season average. The audience peaked with 4,372,000 viewers at 3:30 p.m. It was the most-watched NBA Sunday Showcase early game (1 p.m.) in eight years, dating back to 2015.

The New York Knicks exciting double overtime win against the Boston Celtics on Sunday night delivered an average of 2,146,000 viewers, making it the most-watched NBA game on ESPN this season. It was the most-watched program on cable for Mar. 5 and up 52 percent from last year’s regular season ESPN average.

ESPN Platforms Score Their Most-Watched Men’s College Basketball Regular Season in Four Years

With a schedule that featured thrilling action on the court and marquee matchups from all the top conferences, ESPN platforms scored their most-watched men’s college basketball regular season in four years in 2022-23.

The 350-plus games on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 delivered the most-watched regular season across ESPN networks since 2018-19. Overall viewership averaged 554,000 viewers (P2+), a six percent increase, while adults 18-49 rose eight percent to 192,000 viewers.

• ABC delivered its most-watched regular season in the last four years. Its five regular season games averaged 938,000 viewers and 247,000 adults 18-49, increases of 41 percent and 33 percent, respectively.
• ESPN’s regular season (131 games) averaged 955,000 viewers and 348,000 among adults 18-49s, gains of three and four percent, respectively, notching the network’s most-viewed regular season since 2019-20.
• ESPN2 (217 games) averaged 299,000 viewers, up seven percent, for its most-watched regular season since 2018-19ESPN’s 15 Sonic Blockbuster games this season averaged 1.7 million viewers, while ESPN networks finished with 57 total games of at least one million viewers, compared to 46 games a year ago. Across the industry, ESPN presented five of the top 10 men’s college basketball audiences and 10 of the top 20 in 2022-23.

ESPN’s 15 Sonic Blockbuster games this season averaged 1.7 million viewers, while ESPN networks finished with 57 total games of at least one million viewers, compared to 46 games a year ago. Across the industry, ESPN presented five of the top 10 men’s college basketball audiences and 10 of the top 20 in 2022-23.

On Saturday (March 4), ESPN’s Duke-North Carolina telecast delivered 2.6 million viewers (peaking at 3.4 million), the third most-viewed game of season on any network – and the second most-viewed on ESPN networks, behind only the previous UNC-Duke rivalry game on Feb. 4 (2.855 million viewers). In all, ESPN’s five games on Saturday averaged 1.4 million viewers, the network’s second-best Saturday of the men’s college season.

ESPN’s Biggest Audiences of the 2022-23 Men’s College Basketball Season:

* Champions Classic (Indianapolis); ** Big 12/SEC Challenge

ESPN Again Delivers the Most-Viewed Men’s College Basketball Game of the Week

Virginia-North Carolina on ESPN is most-viewed game men’s college basketball game of the week with 1.9 million viewers. Viewership peaked with 2.1 million viewers and was the fifth most-watched MCBB game across ESPN platforms this season

Season to date, games on ESPN are averaging 949K viewers (+7% vs 2021-22)
ESPN platforms have delivered 54 games this season with 1 million or more viewers

NASCAR Cup Series: Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 on FOX Ranked as the No. 1 Sports Event of the Week on TV

NASCAR has ranked as the No. 1 sport of the week for the first three points events.

Earned a 2.22 household rating (-18%) with an average of 4.0 million viewers (-12%) tuned in per minute. At peak, 4.8 million. viewers were tuned in

NASCAR Xfinity Series: the event earned a 0.67 rating on FS1 (+6%) with an average of 1.1 million viewers (+7%) tuned in.

At peak, 1.2 million viewers were tuned in.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: the event earned a 0.36 rating on FS1 (+9%) with an average of 623,000 viewers (+15%) tuned in.

At peak, 693,000 viewers were tuned in.

SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt Enjoys Strong Viewership Success in Early 2023

After seven years and more than 1,500 shows, Scott Van Pelt isn’t tired yet.

The host of ESPN’s late-night SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt sometimes opens his program by telling viewers it’s late, but he’s not tired yet. And as they have since the show launched in 2015, viewers continue to respond – the program is off to a strong start in 2023 and had its most-viewed episode ever earlier this year.

The SVP SportsCenter was designed to be a different version of ESPN’s signature news and information program, presenting the world of sports as seen through Van Pelt’s unique perspective and showcasing his passion for sports, with his self-deprecating wit and disposition toward celebrating stars and storylines.

And while interviews, highlights and results of the night’s games are still an integral part of the show, so are Van Pelt’s unique features, including his “One Big Thing” commentary, “The Best Thing I Saw Today” that opens the show and the ever-popular “Bad Beats” segment with his friend “Stanford” Steve Coughlin.

The show has resonated, especially among younger viewers. So far in 2023, the program is averaging 903,000 total viewers, a 45 percent increase over the same date range in 2022. It is ESPN’s most-viewed studio show during the NFL season.

On average since August of 2022, SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt has drawn larger audiences among younger demographics than other late-night talk shows on both broadcast and cable. And it’s still doing so – at the end of February, SVP ranked first in Persons 18-49 (358K average viewers), Males 18-49 (268K), Persons 18-34 (131K) and Males 18-34 (96K).

The program also continues to be the place for sports fans to go after big games – following ESPN Monday Night Football on Jan. 2 this year, the program attracted 5.17 million total viewers, it’s largest audience ever. During January, the show also drew large audiences following the College Football Playoffs and after ESPN’s NFL Wild Card telecast.

“We’re very, very proud of what we have done,” says Van Pelt. “But we did it together – with you, the viewers.

“We are happy to be a place sports fans still gather to be with one of their own after big games. Sincere gratitude for staying up with us into the wee hours. Might be late, but I’m not tired yet.”

Some SVP milestones and highlights

• May 12, 2015 – Announcement made at ESPN UpFront about Scott Van Pelt signing new contract and the coming SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt program.
• Sept. 7, 2015 — First episode aired following ESPN’s telecast of a college football game between Ohio State and Virginia Tech.
• October, 2019 – During the World Cup, with limited access to match highlights, SVP invited viewers to have their children send in drawings of soccer players to use with match recaps, saying “We’re going to need kids to get their crayons out.”
• March 11, 2020 – Due to Covid-19, the NBA season was suspended prior to a game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz. Van Pelt’s show came on early after the game was canceled and navigated the breaking news situation as it developed over several hours.
• March-April, 2020 – When sports were shut down during the pandemic, SVP and team received widespread praise for the “Senior Night” initiative, recognizing high school and college senior athletes who didn’t get to finish their careers.
• August, 2020  — Show moves from ESPN headquarters in Connecticut to Washington, D.C., allowing Van Pelt to return to his home area.
• January, 2021 – the popular “Bad Beats” segment spins off into new monthly show with SVP and Stanford Steve.
• 2021 — SVP named “National Sportscaster of the Year” by NSMA (National Sports Media Association).
• Jan. 2, 2023 – After the NFL suspended the ESPN Monday Night Football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills due to Bills’ player Damar Hamlin suffering cardiac arrest on the field, Van Pelt’s show again came on early and provided viewers with news and updates about what had happened.

Global Audience of More Than 56 Million Watch Super Bowl LVII, a 7 Percent Increase Over 2022

A global audience of more than 56 million watched the Kansas City Chiefs record a 38-35 victory over Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII, a 7% increase over 2022 as international interest in the NFL continues to rise.

Highlights of Super Bowl LVII consumption in international markets include:

• Mexico: Total audience reach of 20.7 million, with an average of 8.3 million viewers, up +10% year-on-year and the highest in at least a decade. Audience peaked at 10.2 million during the Apple Music Halftime Show.
• Canada: Total audience reach of 17.3 million, with an average of 8.7 million viewers, up +6% year-on-year. Audience peaked at 11.9 million during the Apple Music Halftime Show.
• Brazil: Total audience reach of 2.5 million, including an average audience of over 500 thousand, up +19% year-on-year and the highest in at least a decade.

• China: Live streaming audience of 6.2 million unique viewers, up 43% year-on-year and the most watched Super Bowl in the last 6 years.

• NFL Game Pass International: Total number of viewers increased 10% year on year, with consumption increasing by 5% over the previous year.

• Social consumption on NFL channels in all international markets (Australia, Africa, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Mexico and UK) showed a significant increase from the previous Super Bowl, including:
  • Combined social video views of nearly over 236 million, up 25% from Super Bowl LVI
  • Total followers across all social channels now stands over 14.5 million, with a 372k increase in new followers gained during Super Bowl week, up 3% over same period last year
  • Over 7.5 million engagements generated from over 1,700 pieces of content

• NFL Shop Internationals sales: Total revenue over Super Bowl LVII (Sun– Mon) increased +45% compared to previous year across NFL Shop International sites.

• International watch parties: Super Bowl LVII saw numerous in-market activations around the globe for the broadcast, including official NFL watch parties hosted in Brazil, Canada and France; broadcaster-led watch parties hosted in Germany, Spain and Latin America; partner-led watch parties in Australia and China, plus club-led International Home Marketing Area initiatives in Canada (Seahawks), Germany (Chiefs, Panthers), Ghana (Eagles) and Mexico (Chiefs). Additionally, NFL International supported the U.S. Department of State’s Sports Diplomacy Division in facilitating 20 watch parties hosted at U.S. Embassies and Consulates. Watch party footage from Accra in Ghana, Munich in Germany, and Sao Paolo in Brazil was shown within the FOX broadcast, the World Feed, and inside the stadium on the videoboards.

“Global interest in the NFL continues to accelerate, and these numbers reflect the exciting growth in our sport around the world,” says Peter O’Reilly, NFL Executive Vice President, Club Business, Major Events & International. “The Super Bowl is the pinnacle of our season and a must-watch cultural event. It’s fantastic to end the year with so much momentum as we look towards next season.”

The International Games 2022 saw the historic first regular-season game played in Germany, with three games in London and one in Mexico with sell-out crowds.  Five International Games will be played in 2023, with three games in London and two games in Germany.

Super Bowl LVII was aired live in over 190 countries/territories via 80+ partners in over 25 languages, including Bell Media, DAZN (Canada), ESPN, Seven (Australia), Tencent, BesTV, GSports and GDTV (China), ProSieben, DAZN (Germany), Televisa, TV Azteca, ESPN, Fox (Mexico) and ITV, Sky Sports (UK).

In the United States, a custom survey from Nielsen and the NFL revealed Super Bowl LVII reached approximately 200 million viewers, or 60% of all people across the country, with an average minute audience of approximately 136 million viewers on television (FOX and FOX Deportes) and digital (FOX and NFL properties).

Custom Survey from Nielsen and NFL Reveals Total Viewing Audience for Super Bowl LVII was Approximately 200 Million Viewers

The National Football League commissioned a survey from Nielsen, a leading media measurement and analytics company, to complement Nielsen’s audience measurement data and provide further insights into how many people in the U.S. watched Super Bowl LVII on February 12, 2023, particularly in group settings. According to the custom survey, Super Bowl LVII reached approximately 200 million viewers, or 60% of all people in the United States. This is a 9% increase compared with the nearly 183 million unique viewers initially reported to have watched at least one minute of Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles earlier this month. The survey also revealed that the average minute audience was approximately 136 million viewers.

The Super Bowl stands alone in the sports and entertainment spheres as an event in which a larger portion of viewers watch in out-of-home group settings. The custom survey of 5,189 households examined the size of viewing groups, regardless of location, and to what extent those groups are larger than that which is measured today. The survey was conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago using the AmeriSpeak panel.

“The Super Bowl is singular across the television and media landscape not only in its unparalleled viewership, but because it is largely watched in group settings,” says Paul Ballew, Chief Data and Analytics Officer of the NFL. “With that in mind, additional measurement is needed in order to have a complete picture of the total viewership of this special event and the results of this custom survey with Nielsen illustrate the true magnitude of the Super Bowl.”

“Nielsen has measured Super Bowl viewership for over 50 years giving us a front row seat to the vast changes in how and where fans watch the Big Game,” says Jon Stainer, Nielsen Global Sports Managing Director. “We recognize the uniqueness of this media event around group viewing parties and this additional custom survey helps supplement our audience measurement.”

Following the game, it was reported that 182.6 million unique viewers watched at least one minute of the Super Bowl LVII telecast, which was broadcast on FOX, FOX Deportes, and across various FOX and NFL digital platforms, and that it had an average audience of 113.1 million viewers, making it one of the top three most-watched Super Bowls of all time.