ESPN’s daily studio lineup posted its strongest August yet. Multiple shows hit all-time highs for the month.
What We Know: Overall studio viewership climbed 13% year over year in August 2026. NBA Today led the surge, up 64% YOY to 328K viewers — its best August on record. Get Up, First Take, and The Pat McAfee Show all matched or set August highs. SportsCenter’s 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. editions also hit new August peaks, part of a stretch where five editions have grown YOY every month this year.
What The Data Shows: (All data via ESPN PR):
| Program | August 2026 Avg. Viewership | % Lift Year Over Year (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Get Up | 378,000 | +19% |
| First Take | 419,000 | Tied (2025) |
| The Pat McAfee Show | 405,000 | +19% |
| NBA Today | 328,000 | +64% |
| SportsCenter (7 a.m.) | 212,000 | +12% |
| SportsCenter (2 p.m.) | 298,000 | +39% |
| SportsCenter (5 p.m.) | 413,000 | +40% |
| SportsCenter (6 p.m.) | 403,000 | +12% |
| NFL Live | 366,000 | +22% |
| Pardon the Interruption | 568,000 | +14% |
| SC AM (Saturday) | 422,000 | +17% |
| SC AM (Sunday) | 349,000 | +24% |
What Remains Unclear: Moving into football season, it’s unclear how Big Day with Peter Schrager, debuting September 10, will affect the 2 p.m. weekday slot’s momentum. Also, the added Bussin’ with Pate Friday program could also factor in.
What It Means: The numbers suggest ESPN’s daily studio strategy is paying off broadly, not in isolated pockets. PTI’s best August since 2019 and NFL Live’s best since 2015 point to sustained, multi-year audience rebuilding. Adding Schrager’s show ahead of college football season signals ESPN is betting the momentum continues into fall.
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