ESPN’s studio lineup grew its average September audience by 7% year over year. Meanwhile, four shows delivered their best Septembers ever including Pardon the Interruption.
What We Know: Across ESPN’s studio programming, average September viewership rose 7% compared with last year. The 6 p.m. SportsCenter led the way with 640,000 viewers, up 18%. In addition, Get Up averaged 461,000, The Pat McAfee Show drew 464,000, and NBA Today hit 329,000. Meanwhile, Pardon the Intrruption averaged 794,000 viewers, its best September since 2015.
What The Data Shows (Avg Viewership YOY via ESPN Press)
| Show | Avg. Viewership (September 2026) | Avg. Viewership (September 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Get Up | 461,000 | 459,000 |
| First Take | 500,000 | 551,000 |
| The Pat McAfee Show | 464,000 | 447,000 |
| Big Day w/ Peter Schrager | 317,000 | N/A |
| Bussin’ & Pate On Campus | 317,000 | N/A |
| NFL Live | 472,000 | 447,000 |
| NBA Today | 329,000 | N/A |
| Pardon the Interruption | 794,000 | 676,000 |
SportsCenter
| Show | Avg. Viewership (September 2026) | Avg. Viewership (September 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 p.m. | 526,000 | 448,000 |
| 6 p.m. | 640,000 | 542,000 |
| Saturday AM | 482,000 | N/A |
| Sunday AM | 533,000 | N/A |
What Remains Unclear: ESPN did not release specific figures for the 2pm weekday hour in their release last year for comparison to the new programming in 2026. However, the release states Bussin’ & Pate on Campus was up 26% comparatively year over year.
What It Means: Ultimately, ESPN’s studio shows are drawing audiences well beyond live games. Younger viewers are a key driver, with 10 shows posting gains among adults 18-49. For example, NBA Today jumped 45% and Big Day with Peter Schrager rose 30% in that demo. As a result, ESPN heads deeper into football season with momentum across its weekday schedule.
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