
The total live audience for ESPN’s coverage of the 2 hour, 15-minute Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Championship on Sunday, July 16, was up six percent from last year (from 2,224,700 to 2,362,400). The TV portion of the audience was also up 6%, from 2,194,000 to 2,316,000 (P2+); both years earned a 1.5 rating, according to Nielsen. Streaming had the highest increase of 51%, from 30,700 in 2016 to 46,400.
The historic final marked Roger Federer’s eighth Wimbledon victory. The 35-year old No. 3 seed Federer defeated Marin Cilic in straight sets and broke a tie of seven Wimbledon trophies with Pete Sampras and, from the 1880s, William Renshaw. The match was part of a six-hour telecast that also included the Mixed Doubles Championship.
ESPN’s tennis coverage continues this summer with an extensive schedule of the US Open Series, leading into exclusive coverage of the US Open in New York beginning Monday, August 28.