National League Wild Card Game on ESPN Platforms Up 59 Percent From 2017

ESPN, ESPN2 Combine to Deliver 5.1 Metered Market Rating, Peaked with 6.0

ESPN's coverage of the 2018 MLB National League Wild Card Game presented by Hankook Tire was up 59 percent from the National League Wild Card Game in 2017, according to Nielsen. ESPN and ESPN2 combined to deliver a 5.1 metered market rating compared to a 3.2 last year. The telecasts combined to peak with a 6.0 metered market rating from 11:15-11:30 p.m. ET.

Tuesday's ESPN-only telecast generated a 4.6 metered market rating. Additionally, ESPN2 first Wild Card alternative viewing experience drew a 0.5 metered market rating, making it one of ESPN's highest-rated alternative viewing experiences to date, across sports properties.

In the Denver market, ESPN and ESPN2 combined to draw a 18.6 rating, up 41 percent from the local Denver market rating for last year's National League Wild Card Game. The telecasts delivered an 18.1 rating in the Chicago market and an 11.9 rating in the Milwaukee market.

ESPN is expected to win the night across all of cable television for Tuesday, Oct. 2.

ESPN Platforms Draw More Than Seven Million Viewers for National League Wild Card Game

ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes Combine to Outdraw 2017 NL Wild Card by 61 Percent and Outdraw 2017 AL Wild Card by Three Percent on ESPN

ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes combined to draw 7,100,000 viewers for the 2018 MLB National League Wild Card Game presented by Hankook Tire. The 13-inning thriller, in which the Colorado Rockies defeated the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, became the fourth-most watched MLB Wild Card Game ever, according to Fast Nationals from Nielsen. Tuesday's telecast peaked across ESPN platforms with 8,400,000 viewers from 11-11:30 p.m. ET.

Tuesday's NL Wild Card Game telecasts outdrew the 2017 NL Wild Card Game by 61 percent, while also outdrawing the 2017 AL Wild Card Game on ESPN by two percent. ESPN won the night across all of cable television for Tuesday, Oct. 2.

ESPN's coverage of the 2018 MLB Postseason continues, as ESPN Radio will nationally broadcast every game, including the World Series. More information will be issued this week.