The finale of the World Series of Poker was less of a draw on ESPN. In other news, the latest ESPN 30 For 30 doc declined double-digits, and the latest batch of College Football Playoff rankings scored an increase.
World Series of Poker Finale Drops on ESPN
- Tuesday’s World Series of Poker finale earned 1.15 million viewers on ESPN, down 1% from last year (1.16M), down 7% from 2013 (1.23M), and the second-smallest audience for the event since moving to its current date in 2008. Only 2012 did worse (735K). Monday’s final four had 709,000 viewers on ESPN2, up 47% from last year (484K) and 74% from 2013 (408K), when coverage continued well into the morning. On Sunday, the first night of the final table had 810,000 on ESPN and 460,000 on ESPN2; there were no comparable windows in previous years.
Latest 30 For 30 Down
- The debut of ESPN’s 30 For 30 documentary Chasing Tyson drew 1.2 million viewers Tuesday night, down 24% from the fourth premiere last year, Brian and the Boz (1.6M). That episode aired opposite Game 6 of the World Series and NBA Opening Night. Compared to Rand University on the comparable night last year, viewership fell an even steeper 44% from 2.2 million.
College Football Playoff Rankings Up
- ESPN drew 1.1 million viewers for Tuesday’s release of the College Football Playoff rankings, up 8% from the second set of rankings last year (1.0M). Viewership increased despite the show lasting for a full hour — as opposed to a half-hour last year.
(Tue. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily; historical WSOP viewership from Sports Business Daily)