WrestleMania simulcasts average 1.7 million viewers on ESPN, ESPN2
Awful Announcing • • entertainment
Key Points:
- ESPN's first live WWE programming on linear networks, covering WrestleMania 42, averaged 1.72 million viewers across ESPN and ESPN2, excluding ESPN Unlimited viewers.
- ESPN2's opening hour on Saturday averaged 1.62 million viewers, while ESPN's first hour on Sunday night averaged 1.82 million, with pre-shows drawing between 676,000 and 750,000 viewers.
- These WrestleMania numbers surpassed the average 1.33 million viewers for WWE Smackdown on USA Network, indicating stronger viewership for the special event.
- The full impact of WrestleMania on ESPN’s audience is unclear without ESPN Unlimited data, which is the primary platform for hardcore WWE fans and a key driver for new subscriptions.
- ESPN pays approximately $325 million annually for WWE Premium Live Events, using exclusive content like WrestleMania to attract subscribers to ESPN Unlimited, particularly targeting non-pay TV users.
