ESPN's First Round Coverage of 2013 NFL Draft Draws 6.2 Million Viewers

ESPN's live telecast of the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, averaged 6,199,000 viewers with a 4.1 US rating based on fast nationals, according to the Nielsen Company.

The rating and viewership was slightly down, seven percent (vs. 4.4 US rating and 6,661,000 viewers), compared to last year's much ballyhooed NFL Draft, which had four eventual starting quarterbacks - Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Ryan Tannehill and Brandon Weeden - selected in the first round. Compared to the 2011 NFL Draft, the first round rating was up eight percent (vs. 3.8 US rating), while viewership saw a three percent gain (6,003,000). This year's telecast ranks as the third-most viewed NFL Draft since the event moved to prime time in 2010.

Last night's ESPN telecast peaked at a 4.5 rating between 10:00 and 10:30 p.m. ET. The top 10 metered markets included Buffalo, N.Y. (10.3), New Orleans (8.8), Kansas City (8.4), Baltimore (7.6), Birmingham (7.6), Dayton, Ohio (7.4), Milwaukee (7.2), Cincinnati (6.8), Cleveland (6.6) and Minneapolis-St. Paul (6.5).

ESPN has televised the NFL Draft annually since 1980 and the event has received ratings since 1983.

ESPN Digital

On digital platforms, the average minute audience for NFL Draft coverage on WatchESPN and ESPN3 was up 632 percent compared to the previous year. Additionally, total visits to NFL content on the ScoreCenter app were up 53 percent.

More ESPN NFL Draft Coverage on Friday and Saturday

ESPN's live NFL Draft coverage continues tonight at 6:30 p.m. ET (rounds 2 and 3) and Saturday at 12 p.m. (rounds 4-7). In addition, SportsCenter and ESPN's NFL-themed news and information programs will continue to provide coverage of the event throughout the weekend.