ESPN Delivers Its Most-Viewed Winter X Games in Its History

Jan 31 2008 / Los Angeles, CA
The 12th Annual Event Draws Record Viewership Numbers Across Key Demos

Last weekend’s Winter X Games 12 from Aspen, Colo., was ESPN’s most-watched in history. The eight telecasts averaged 863,000 homes, up 17% from 2007. Many key demo groups (Men and Persons 18-24, 18-34, 18-49, and 25-54) also delivered their most-viewed Winter X Games, all up double-digits across the board from Winter X Games 11. Of the eight Winter X Games 12 telecasts, six were among the top ten most-viewed in Winter X history, including the final night and most-viewed Winter X telecast ever –Sunday night (1,117,000 HHs, based on a 1.2 rating). ABC's Winter X Games 12 telecast on Saturday afternoon delivered a 1.3 household rating and 1,424,000 HHs, up 9% and 10% respectively from Winter X Games 11. Overall, ABC was up across the board among all people and male demos, with Men 18+ up 29% from last year.

“Winter X Games 12 was a huge success, both for the continued growth of action sports and for the way fans experience and engage the Winter X Games,” said Rick Alessandri, managing director, X Games franchise. “Increasingly, the Winter X Games is both a multi-media event and an in-person experience for many fans.”

In addition to a first time high-definition television coverage on ESPN HD and ABC HD, ESPN utilized all of its global digital platforms to allow fans anywhere, with any device, the ability to follow action sports’ top athletes perform on the premier competitive stage. Fans found extensive Winter X Games 12 content on EXPN.com, ESPN360.com, ESPN mobile platforms (including ESPN Mobile TV and ESPN MVP), X Box Live, Apple’s iTunes Store, and via DISH Network’sTM interactive TV (ITV). In addition, for the first time, Winter X 12 aired live in Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Africa and the Middle East.