ESPN Studio Shows Achieve Record Viewership in First Quarter

Mo. Basuony

Published: April 18, 2026 1:19 PM ET

ESPN Studio Shows Achieve Record Viewership in First Quarter

ESPN studio shows posted record viewership during the first quarter, Nielsen data show. The daily studio lineup averaged 485,000 viewers in Q1 of 2026.

Overall performance

Average audience grew 14% compared with Q1 2025. The Nielsen quarter ran from December 29, 2025 to March 29, 2026.

Metrics come from Nielsen Big Data + Panel and YouTube Analytics. The studio slate helped power one of ESPN’s strongest Q1s of the past decade.

Top-performing programs

Get Up averaged 464,000 viewers, up 18% year-over-year. January, February and March were the show’s best months on record.
The Pat McAfee Show averaged 520,000 viewers across linear and digital platforms. January peaked at 575,000 viewers.
Late night SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt led all shows, averaging 868,000 viewers per episode. Its January average reached 1.9 million.
PTI averaged 777,000 viewers, recording its best Q1 since 2019 and a 16% gain versus 2025.
NBA Today averaged 360,000 viewers, up 24% and its strongest Q1 ever.

Other notable gains

2 p.m. SportsCenter averaged 326,000 viewers, its best Q1 since the edition launched. Year-over-year growth was 13%.
6 p.m. SportsCenter averaged 533,000 viewers, up 26% and its highest quarterly average since 2016.
A SportsCenter edition that added Christine Williamson alongside Kevin Negandhi in March averaged 529,000 viewers. That marked a 27% year-over-year increase.
NFL Live posted 469,000 viewers for the quarter, a 30% rise and its best Q1 since 2015.
The newly launched 5 p.m. SportsCenter averaged 477,000 viewers in its first full Q1.

Strong month-by-month trends

January delivered a powerful start and drove much of the quarter’s momentum. Several shows posted their best single-month averages in January, February or March.

Get Up, The Pat McAfee Show and late night SportsCenter all recorded career-high monthly averages. February and March also showed marked year-over-year gains.

Methodology and contacts

All audience figures are based on Nielsen Big Data + Panel and YouTube Analytics. The Q1 measurement period covered December 29, 2025 to March 29, 2026.

For further inquiries, media contacts included Andy Hall and Michael Skarka. Read more coverage and follow updates at Filmogaz.com.