January was the second-best month for ESPN since 1996, but The Pat McAfee Show saw its best month ever on the network.
During the first month of 2026, the program averaged 575,000 total viewers between the linear and digital options. That figure marks a 15% increase compared to its previous record, which was set in December 2025.
The Pat McAfee Show saw its second-largest single-day audience since joining ESPN on January 19th when 915,000 viewers tuned into the program. That Monday followed the NFL Divisional Round, marked the day of the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, and was also Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
That single day was a large one for ESPN, as the network’s morning show, Get Up, saw its third-best episode ever, reaching 697,000 total viewers. For the month, the show averaged an audience of 518,000, a 3% increase compared to its previous best month on record.
Similarly, First Take saw the third-best episode ever on January 19th with 894,000 viewers. The Stephen A. Smith-led program saw 6% year-over-year growth during January. It finished the month with an average of 598,000 viewers.
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