Gillette Home Run Derby Presented by Head & Shoulders on ESPN Up 26 Percent with Strong 4.9 Overnight Rating
· Host Cincinnati Market Delivers Highest Local Rating Ever for a Derby Telecast
· All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game Up 62 Percent on ESPN
ESPN's exclusive telecast of the 2015 Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders, delivered a strong 4.9 overnight rating, which is up 26 percent from a 3.9 for the 2014 event, according to Nielsen.
The Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders, which emanated from Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, included a new, tournament-style format and timed rounds. Cincinnati Reds slugger Todd Frazier was crowned champion after a dramatic performance in front of the hometown fans.
Cincinnati sets ratings record
In Cincinnati, the host market for the event, the telecast drew a 19.6, making it the highest local market rating for a Home Run Derby telecast ever on ESPN. The top five markets are below.
Market Rating
1. Cincinnati 19.6
2. St. Louis 11.3
3. Kansas City 10.4
4. Dayton 9.7
5. Pittsburgh 7.9
Home Run Derby on WatchESPN
The Home Run Derby was also the most-watched ever on WatchESPN. An average minute audience of 73,600 viewers watched the compelling event, up 57 percent from 2014.
2015 All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game
In addition to the success of the Home Run Derby, ESPN's telecast of the 2015 All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game delivered a 2.1 overnight rating, up 62 percent from a 1.3 from 2014.
On deck: ESPN will open its coverage of the second half of the MLB season with Sunday Night Baseball presented by Taco Bell - Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - on July 19, at 8 p.m. ET.
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