Steady, but not great
The 2019 ESPYS matched the key demo rating (a 0.9/5 share) and total viewers (3.9 million) of the 2018 ESPYS, and ABC won Wednesday’s primetime.
That doesn’t really mean they did great, however, when you factor in the fact that last year’s special had sunk 36% from 2017’s version. That 2017 special had already sunk 18% from 2016.
CBS finished in second place last night, when “The ESPYS” were the only broadcast in ABC’s primetime.
Also Read: ESPYS 2019 Complete Winners List: US Women's National Soccer Team Named Best Team
CBS was second in ratings with a 0.7/4 and in viewers with 3.1 million. “Love Island” at 8 p.m. had a 0.6/3 and 2.7 million viewers. At 9, “Big Brother” earned a 1.0/6 and 4.1 million viewers. A repeat followed.
Fox was third in ratings with a 0.6/4 and in viewers with 2.7 million. “MasterChef” at 8 had a 0.7/4 and 3 million viewers. At 9, “First Responders Live” got a 0.5/3 and 2.4 million viewers.
NBC and Telemundo tied for fourth in ratings, both with a 0.5/3. NBC was fourth in total viewers with 2.6 million, Telemundo was fifth with 1.4 million.
Also Read: Ratings: NBC's 'Bring the Funny' Debut Brings the Viewers - Though Not as Many as Fox's MLB All-Star Game
For NBC, following reruns, “The Inbetween” at 10 received a 0.4/2 and 2.3 million.
Univision was sixth in ratings with a 0.4/2 and in viewers with 1 million.
The CW was seventh in ratings with a 0.3/1 and in viewers with 918,000. Following a repeat, “Jane the Virgin” at 9 had a 0.2/1 and 715,000 viewers.
Tony Maglio
TV Editor • tony.maglio@thewrap.com • Twitter: @tonymaglio