ESPN's Division I Softball Super Regional Coverage Generates Audience Growth
Exclusive coverage of Women's College World Series Continues
ESPN's complete coverage of the NCAA Division I Softball Championship Super Regionals (May 22 - 25) generated significant increases over last season's telecasts. ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPNEWS' combined telecasts -- every game from the eight sites -- reached 26,347,000 viewers, a 30 percent increase over 2013 (vs. 20,229,000 viewers). The networks' Super Regional coverage averaged 413,000 viewers, a 17 percent increase over last season (vs. 352,000 viewers).
Top Metered Markets
Tulsa was the highest-rated metered market for ESPN's Super Regional telecasts. Knoxville was second, followed by Birmingham, Nashville, Oklahoma City, Memphis, Louisville, Austin, West Palm Beach and San Antonio.
ESPN's Women's College World Series coverage from Oklahoma City - which began on Thursday, May 28, -- continues today with four elimination games. No. 13 Baylor vs. No. 8 Florida State (12 p.m. ET) and No. 7 Oklahoma vs. No. 6 Louisiana-Lafayette (2:30 p.m.) will be on ESPN2. ESPN will continue the action tonight with the winner of Baylor vs. Florida State playing No. 14 Kentucky (7 p.m.) and the winner of Oklahoma vs. Louisiana-Lafayette taking on No.1 Oregon (9:30 p.m.). ESPN and ESPN2 will televise up to four more games on Sunday, June 1.
The best-of-three Women's College World Series Finals will start on Monday, June 2, with Game 1 at 8 p.m. on ESPN2. WCWS Finals Game 2 shifts to ESPN on Tuesday, June 3, at 8 p.m. A decisive WCWS Game 3 (if necessary) will be Wednesday, June 4, at 8 p.m. on ESPN. A complete television schedule is provided below. Networks are subject to change.
ESPN's road to the Women's College World Series began on March 23 with the first of 44 televised regular season games. Championship coverage began with Regional games (May 16-18) from seven campus sites. For the eighth consecutive year, ESPN televised every game of the Super Regionals. The 2014 WCWS is ESPN's 14th consecutive year airing every game from Oklahoma City, Okla.
ESPN Women's College World Series Television Schedule (May 31 - June 4)
A complete WCWS bracket, which corresponds with the game numbers below, can be found here: http://bit.ly/SLCkjB
Date Time (ET) Game/Commentators Network
Sat, May 31 Noon WCWS Game No. 7: No. 13 Baylor vs. No. 8 Florida State
Pam Ward, Michele Smith, Holly Rowe
ESPN2
2:30 p.m. WCWS Game No. 8: No. 7 Oklahoma vs. No. 6 Louisiana-Lafayette
Pam Ward, Michele Smith, Holly Rowe
ESPN2
7 p.m. WCWS Game No. 9: Baylor/Florida St vs. No. 14 Kentucky
Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza, Holly Rowe
ESPN
9:30 p.m. WCWS Game No. 10: Oklahoma/Louisiana-Lafayette vs. No. 1 Oregon
Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza, Holly Rowe
ESPN
Sun, June 1 1 p.m. WCWS Game No. 11:
Pam Ward, Michele Smith, Holly Rowe
ESPN
3:30 p.m. WCWS Game No. 12:
Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza, Holly Rowe
ESPN
7 p.m. WCWS Game No. 13 (if nec.):
Pam Ward, Michele Smith, Holly Rowe
ESPN2*
9:30 p.m. WCWS Game No. 14 (if nec.):
Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza, Holly Rowe
ESPN2*
Mon, June 2 8 p.m. WCWS Finals Game No. 1:
Beth Mowins, Michele Smith, Jessica Mendoza, Holly Rowe
ESPN2
Tue, June 3 8 p.m. WCWS Finals Game No. 2:
Beth Mowins, Michele Smith, Jessica Mendoza, Holly Rowe
ESPN
Wed, June 4 8 p.m. WCWS Finals Game No. 3 (if nec.):
Beth Mowins, Michele Smith, Jessica Mendoza, Holly Rowe
ESPN
*Change from original schedule
Networks and times are subject to change
|