College World Series a Home Run for ESPN, ESPN2

The 2009 NCAA Men’s College World Series was the most-viewed and highest-rated in ESPN’s and ESPN2’s history. ESPN averaged 1.45 million households, 1.928 million viewers and a 1.5 household rating, while ESPN2 tallied 821,000, 1.043 million and an 0.8, respectively.

For the best-of-three Championship Series, in which LSU defeated Texas, ESPN’s three games averaged 2.059 million households, 2.762 million total viewers and a 2.1 rating. This year’s tournament delivered three of ESPN’s top-four most-viewed NCAA College World Series telecasts ever, with the third and final game drawing 2.303 million households, 3.16 million viewers and a 2.3 household rating.

When compared with the 2008 CWS, ESPN’s overall numbers were up 33% in households, 37% in viewers and 36% in ratings, and those figures for the Championship Series were 24%, 26% and 24%, respectively. ESPN2 saw households and viewers rise 6%, while its rating remained unchanged.