ESPN’s weekday daytime studio lineup recorded its strongest October in ten years, driven by year-over-year growth across all 10 shows in the 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Eastern window. The network averaged 424,000 viewers during daytime hours, marking a 13 percent increase from October 2024 and its highest monthly daytime audience since 2015.
The surge follows a strong September in which every individual studio show also saw year-over-year growth, positioning ESPN for one of its most successful early fall sports seasons in recent memory.
Among the highlights, Get Up drew an average of 464,000 viewers, its largest October audience since debuting in 2018. The Pat McAfee Show reached an average of 439,000 viewers, combining ESPN and YouTube metrics for its most-watched October ever. Meanwhile, First Take delivered an average of 524,000 viewers, its second most-watched October in the show’s eight-year history.
Legacy programs also posted strong gains. NFL Live and the 6 p.m. edition of SportsCenter each logged their best October in a decade, with averages of 443,000 and 502,000 viewers, respectively, both up more than 20 percent from the previous year. The network’s 5 p.m. SportsCenter also improved 16 percent year-over-year, registering an average of 446,000 viewers.
The NBA season kickoff contributed to audience growth for ESPN’s afternoon lineup. NBA Today drew an average of 331,000 viewers, a 26 percent increase from last year and the largest October audience for an ESPN NBA daily studio show since 2017. Additionally, Pardon the Interruption saw a 20 percent year-over-year increase, reaching an average of 720,000 viewers, while the 2 p.m. edition of SportsCenter hit an average of 312,000 viewers, its best October since 2020.
Outside of daytime, ESPN’s late-night 11 p.m. SportsCenter experienced a 45 percent jump from October 2024, totaling an average of 645,000 viewers, highlighting strong interest across the network’s broader programming schedule. The morning edition of SportsCenter also posted solid gains, drawing an average of 268,000 viewers, the highest October audience since 2019.
The combined results demonstrate ESPN’s ability to maintain audience engagement across multiple platforms, including linear television and streaming. With the NFL season in full swing and the NBA season underway, the network is positioned to sustain strong performance through the remainder of the fall sports calendar.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
