No. 1 ESPN Digital Captures More Than Half of the Entire U.S. Sports Category Audience in September for its Best Month Ever

109.3 Million Monthly Unique Visitors in September, +22% YOY and More Than 25 Million Users Larger than No. 2

ESPN App and ESPN Fantasy App Recorded All-Time Highs in Monthly Uniques and Minutes

ESPN Digital Ranked No. 1 Across Every Key Metric and Demographic

(ESPN.com) ESPN Digital reached an all-time high 109.3 million unique visitors (up +22% YOY) and 10.2 billion minutes of usage (up +10%) in September, capturing more than half of the entire U.S. sports category audience for the month. It also topped the no. 2 sports category property by more than 25 million users and logged its 10th straight record-setting monthly reach.

Additionally, the ESPN App and ESPN Fantasy App recorded all-time highs in monthly uniques (25.4 million and 10.7 million, respectively) and minutes (each with 2.8 billion). In fact, the ESPN App reached more users in September than any sports app has ever reached.*

ESPN Digital also ranked as the No. 1 U.S. digital sports property across every key metric, as well as all key demographics, fueled by audience expansion among younger and female fans. This includes persons 13-24 (+64% YOY), all females (+25%), and men 13-24 (+52%).

Source: ESPN Research & Insights analysis of Comscore data including Comscore Media Metrix© Multi-Platform, Desktop 2+ and Total Mobile 13+, September 2019, and Comscore Mobile Metrix© Mobile App Only, All Applications, Total Mobile 13+, September 2019, U.S.

* Based on ESPN’s analysis of sports apps found within Comscore All Applications category.

ESPN Scores Its Highest-Rated Monday Night Football Doubleheader Since 2015 – Overnight Rating Up 19 Percent

  • Texans-Saints up 24 percent – the highest-rated early game in ESPN’s opening doubleheader since 2015
  • Broncos-Raiders up 10 percent – the highest-rated late game in ESPN’s opening doubleheader since 2015

Sept 10th 2019 (ESPNPressRoom.com) Monday Night Football’s 50th season opening-night doubleheader averaged a combined 8.6 overnight rating, resulting in a 19 percent increase year-over-year. This is the highest-rated MNF doubleheader since 2015.

Houston Texans vs. New Orleans Saints
The early game (7:15-10:30 p.m. ET) in ESPN’s Week 1 doubleheader – the regular season debut for ESPN’s new Monday Night Football commentator team and a thrilling New Orleans Saints’ 30-28 victory over the Houston Texans – earned a 9.3 overnight rating according to Nielsen, based on the metered markets. This is an increase of 24 percent year-over-year and ranks as the highest-rated early game in ESPN’s opening doubleheader since 2015. The game rating peaked from 10:15-10:30 p.m. ET with a 12.8 metered market rating.

Local markets: In Houston, the game delivered a combined 25.9 rating in the market (7.0 rating on ESPN). In New Orleans, the game delivered a combined 56.8 rating in the market (13.0 rating on ESPN).

The top metered markets (not including those of the competing teams): Denver (13.8), Kansas City (13.1), Jacksonville (12.8), Dallas-Ft. Worth (12.6), Buffalo and Richmond-Petersburg (12.4), San Diego (12.2), Las Vegas (12.1), Nashville (12.0), San Antonio and Tampa-St. Pete (11.6).

Denver Broncos vs. Oakland Raiders
The late game (10:30 p.m.-1:15 a.m. ET) in ESPN’s Week 1 doubleheader – an Oakland Raiders’ 24-16 victory over the Denver Broncos – earned a 7.7 overnight rating according to Nielsen, based on the metered markets. This is an increase of 10 percent year-over-year and ranks as the highest-rated late game in ESPN’s opening doubleheader since 2015. The game rating peaked from 10:30-10:45 p.m. ET with a 10.6 metered market rating.

Local markets: In Denver, the game delivered a combined 34.3 rating in the market (17.2 rating on ESPN). In San Francisco – this market includes Oakland and San Jose, the game delivered a combined 17.1 rating in the market (9.1 rating on ESPN).

The top metered markets (not including those of the competing teams): San Diego (17.1), Las Vegas (14.8), Sacramento (13.5), Albuquerque-Santa Fe (13.3), Los Angeles (12.7), New Orleans (11.8), Phoenix (11.7), Seattle-Tacoma (11.5), Salt Lake City (10.4), Jacksonville (10.2).

SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt
SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt delivered a 2.1 overnight rating, which is an 11 percent increase year-over-year.

Sunday NFL Countdown
ESPN’s Week 1 Sunday NFL Countdown delivered 1.6 million viewers, which is a 15 percent increase year-over-year.