ESPN’s opening weekend coverage of the Little League World Series averaged 1,056,000 viewers for eight telecasts, a 60 percent increase over last year’s opening weekend average of 660,000 viewers for six telecasts.  The corresponding household impressions are up 52 percent (837,000 in 2009 vs. 549,000 last year) and the rating is up 50 percent (0.9 this year vs. 0.6 in 2008).

ESPN2’s four telecasts are averaging a 1,219,000 viewers, up 137 percent over the 514,000 viewers last year.  ESPN2’s 0.9 rating are an increase of 125 percent (vs. 0.4 rating in 2008) and household impressions are up 122 percent (898,000 vs. 405,000).

Collectively, ESPN and ESPN2’s Little League World Series coverage generated five telecasts posting a 1.0 rating or higher over the opening weekend.  ESPN360.com’s usage was an increase of 545 percent in total hours during the Little League World Series’ opening weekend when compared to the same weekend in 2008.

ABC’s Saturday broadcast (Warner Robins, Ga. vs. Staten Island, N.Y.) posted a 1.3 overnight rating, up 160 percent over the comparable 0.5 overnight rating a year ago.  Sunday’s Little League World Series broadcast on ABC (Russellville, Ky. vs. San Antonio) generated a 0.9 overnight rating, an increase of 29 percent over last year’s 0.7 overnight rating.

ESPN’s Little League World Series coverage from Williamsport, Pa., is coming off momentum built during the Regional Finals, which demonstrated significant audience growth including:

ESPN

• Five telecasts up 19 percent in households (708,000 vs. 596,000 for five telecasts in 2008);
• a 0.7 average rating, an increase of 17 percent over last year’s 0.6 rating;
• up 14 percent in viewership (889,000 viewers vs. 779,000).

ESPN2

• three telecasts up 55 percent among households (721,000 vs. 465,000 for three telecasts in 2008);
• an increase of 53 percent among viewers (972,000 vs. 635,000);
• up 40 percent in rating (0.7 vs. 0.5 last year).

ESPN's coverage of the Little League World Series will continue throughout the week – all 32 games available in HD – including the semifinals and final this weekend (Aug. 29-30) on ABC.

Source: ESPN

Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is available for hire or freelance. Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network (select his name in the dropdown provided).

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LLWS
written by TorgosPizza, August 25, 2009

Dear god its on ESPN every night for two weeks! First it was a game on ABC, then it was the semifinals too, then they expanded it to ESPN, then they added teams to the WS, then ESPN started televising the regionals to GET to the WS! Please make it go away! Please get off my tv!

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