Ranked #1 in the Timeslot among Men 18-34

In January, ESPN’s First Take enjoyed a 7% increase in overall viewership over the previous year, averaging 503,000 viewers (P2+, Nielsen’s January 2018: January 1-28, Nielsen’s January 2017: December 26, 2016 – January 29). The month also saw an increase of 13% for women (F2+) compared to the same month last year (103,000 vs. 91,000) and an increase of 6% for men (M2+, 399,000 vs 377,000). This increase comes after First Take capped off 2017 with its most-viewed year ever.

In addition, ESPN’s First Take ranked:

• #1 in the 10 a.m. to noon ET timeslot on overall networks among men 18-34
• #1 in the 10 a.m. to noon timeslot on cable networks among men 18-49 and men 25-54
• #2 in the 10 a.m. to noon timeslot on cable networks among people 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54

On Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018 ESPN’s First Take equaled its highest-rated show ever with a 0.6 household rating, tied for first with January 10, January 16 and September 4 of 2017. On the same Tuesday a year ago, First Take moved to ESPN from ESPN2 and rated a strong 0.5. The day also ranks third in audience with an average of 823,000 viewers (P2+), behind December 30, 2013 (880,000), and January 16, 2017 (851,000).

First Take’s January audience was more than triple that of Undisputed on FS1 – 503,000 vs. 163,000. The ESPN show’s advantage among women 25-54 was more than quadruple that of Undisputed with an average of 54,000 impressions vs. 11,000 for FS1.

First Take – ESPN’s weekday morning studio debate show featuring commentators Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman with host Molly Qerim – airs weekday mornings from 10 a.m. – noon ET focusing on the most compelling and entertaining topics of the day from the world of sports. Stephen A. Smith will be live on-set at the Hard Rock Café inside Mall of America on Friday, Feb. 2, with special guests for Super Bowl LII.

-30-