ESPN’s ‘The Last Dance’ draws 5.9 Million Viewers for Second Night

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

ESPN continues to score with its documentary series The Last Dance, with episodes three and four averaging 5.9 million viewers across ESPN and ESPN2, according to Nielsen.

The documentary, which chronicles the Chicago Bulls’ last championship season in the 1990s, drew 6.1 million viewers for episode three and 5.7 million for episode four, said Nielsen. That compares to the 6.1 million viewers that tuned into the first two The Last Dance episodes last week.

Overall the documentary is averaging 6.0 million viewers across its first four episodes, making it the most-viewed original content broadcasts on ESPN since 2004, said Nielsen.

The ratings follow a record ratings performance from ESPN’s coverage of the NFL Draft, which drew more than 15 million viewers during its three-night run last week, according to Nielsen. 

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.