ESPN Generates Largest Audience Ever for MLB Opening Night Telecast

Submitted by Tony Caliente on

Written by :

Tony Caliente

Published on :

ESPN Generates Largest Audience Ever for MLB Opening Night Telecast

It's official.  Fans and sports bettors alike are thrilled to have sports back in the United States, and the numbers prove this. 


*6 weeks free trial - test drive - best in the biz
*Deposit with Bitcoin - They'll double it!
*Get your own domain, customized website, logo
*Switch in under an hour, earn mrore $$ for doing so
*Odds featured on DonBest.com
*Thousands of betting options daily + live in-play
*Easy and discreet payment options include gift cards
*Walmart gift cards also accepted
Start Earning Money From Your Sheet Here

ESPN reported a record 4 million people tuned in to watch the Yankees face the Nationals for Thursday's opening night Major League Baseball game.  This was also the most watched MLB game on any network since 2011.

The 2020 MLB will feature 60 games.  The global coronavirus pandemic forced nearly all sports to shut down back in Mid-March.  US leagues began playing this month, starting with Major League Soccer.  The NBA, WNBA and NHL are slated to resume play over the coming days.

ESPN’s record audience for the Yankees vs. Nationals game was up eight percent from the previous Opening Night record set by ESPN’s St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs game on Opening Night in 2017, which drew 3,700,000 viewers. Last night’s telecast was also up 232 percent from last year’s Opening Night telecast between the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners, which drew 1,200,000 viewers. The Yankees vs. Nationals ESPN telecast peaked with 4,480,000 viewers at 8:30 p.m. ET.

The game telecast delivered an 8.4 rating in the Washington D.C. market, which is the highest-rated regular season MLB game ever on ESPN in the market. It also generated a 7.8 rating in the New York market, making it the highest-rated regular season MLB game on ESPN in the market since 2015.

The game ended early due to heavy rainfall.

Additionally, the second half of ESPN’s exclusive Opening Night telecast presented by John Deere doubleheader at 10 p.m. ET – the San Francisco Giants vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers – generated an average audience of 2,764,000 viewers and is ESPN’s most-watched MLB regular season late night ET game ever. The telecast drew a 6.9 rating in the San Francisco market, making it the highest-rated regular season MLB game in the market since 2013. In Los Angeles, the telecast drew a 6.8 rating, making it the highest-rated regular season MLB game on ESPN in the market, outside of the 2018 tiebreaker game vs. the Colorado Rockies.

- Tony Caliente, Gambling911.com

Related Content

melbet app

MelBet Sports Betting App: Why Mobile Became the Main Screen

Sports betting has moved from the desktop to the phone. Users now check odds, open the bet slip, follow scores, and react to live markets while the game is still moving. In American sports, prices can shift quickly because of injuries, timeouts, rotations, pitching changes, weather, and late team news.
Graham Platner vs. Susan Collins Odds

Maine Senate Odds Take Center Stage as Graham Platner Expected to Win Primary But Will Face Susan Collins With Plenty of Baggage

As of Saturday morning, BetOnline improved Platner's odds only slightly to beat Collins in the November general election.
Live Gambling News, Top Trending: Updates 24/7 - Saturday June 6, 2026

Live Gambling News, Top Trending: Updates 24/7 - Saturday June 6, 2026

Belmont Stakes - French Open - Nithya Raman - LA Mayoral Race - Maine Primary - Graham Platner - Evoke - William Hill - Ballys Intralot
What Are the Payout Odds if Vitruvian Man Wins the Belmont Stakes?

What Are the Payout Odds if Vitruvian Man Wins the Belmont Stakes?

Vitruvian is the biggest long shot of Saturday's Belmont Stakes race but has celebrity involvement, which should drive some betting interest.