U.S. Open Ratings Open Strongly For ESPN2
'Grand Slam' Network Nets Double-Digits Gains In Audience, Demos Versus USA's 2008 Coverage
Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 9/5/2009 9:40:02 AM
Like a Taylor Dent serve, the 2009 U.S. Open got off to a fast start for ESPN2 with the Nielsens.Through the Grand Slam event's first four days, ESPN2 scored a 13% gain with its inaugural coverage of the event, compared with USA Network's final go-round with the tourney in 2008. From Aug. 31 through Sept. 3, ESPN averaged 658,000 households for its average of 10-plus hours daily, versus 584,000 for the "characters network" over the comparable span a year ago, according to Nielsen Media Research data.
Over 43.5 hours, ESPN2 averaged a 0.6 U.S. household rating, up from USA's 0.5 mark last year. Among men 18 to 34 and 18 to 49, ESPN2's coverage was ahead 30% and 36%, respectively, according to ESPN officials.ESPN2 has been stronger in primetime, posting a 33% improvement to a 0.8 household rating from a 0.6. with homes growing at 35% clip to 918,000 from 680,000. With men 18 to 34, the "Grand Slam" network grew 24%, while it recorded a 41% advance with guys 18 to 49.
Compared to ESPN2's programming for the same week last year, the daytime audience between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. (ET) jumped 125%. In primetime (7 p.m.-11 p.m.), the U.S. Open served up a 175% increase, according to network officials.
After presenting the Open action on Sept. 4, ESPN2 returns to the courts at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens on Labor Day, Sept. 7, ESPN's 30th anniversary, at 7 p.m.
CBS and Tennis Channel, with its exclusive windows on Saturday and Sunday nights, provide the bulk of the Labor Day weekend coverage.
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The Last time a tennis match created this much excitement as Oudin's match was McEnroe v Borg.
peter gill - 9/9/2009 7:29:53 PM EDT -
WHERE IS THE WEEKEND EVENING (PRIME TIME) US OPEN COVERAGE by ESPN?
What happened? Why outbid USA networks for the US Open and not broadcast the tennis matches in prime time on the weekends? This is outrageous and unacceptable. Am I the only person really upset over the lack of evening coverage of the US Open on Saturday and Sunday. This really sucks!!
I have a 50 inch HD television for my viewing
entertainment and would like to relax and watch the matches. However, if you contact ESPN, I am directed to Direct TV or ESPN360. I went to ESPN360 and lo and behold, it is NOT on my ISP, Cablevision and I have to send a request to Cablevision in order for it to be carried. What kind of nonsense is that when last year, I just sat down, relaxed and turned on the television? Now, I have to sit in front of a computer (usopen.org) just to watch tennis matches that were enjoyed last year in the relaxing and comfortable surroundings of my living room. This is ridiculous. Bring back USA networks for coverage. If ESPN can't provide the same kind of coverage as USA networks, they should have never bid for the rights to broadcast the US Open.
Yvonne S. Thornton, M. D. - 9/7/2009 8:16:51 AM EDT -
It is a shame that ESPN does not air the evening matches on 9/5 & 9/6. Die hard tennis fans are used to watching matches every night during the US Open.
Kate Walker - 9/6/2009 9:36:48 PM EDT
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