Action Sports Coverage Generates Audience Growth Across ESPN’s Multi-Media Platforms; Increase in Television Viewership & Online Traffic

The 14th annual X Games was held in Los Angeles, at both The Home Depot Center and STAPLES Center, July 31 – August 3 with record-breaking milestones on the course as well as among consumers via both television and online. X Games 14 was ESPN''s most-viewed X Games among households, men 18-49 and 25-54 as well as persons 18-49 and 25-54. In addition, ABC''s X Games 14 was up double digits year-to-year among households – an increase of 14% overall from X Games 13.

“X Games 14 surpassed all our expectations both on the field and across all of our global multi-media platforms, reaching a record number of fans”, said Rick Alessandri, Managing Director, X Games Franchise. “It’s clear that fans around the world have embraced these athletes and our events”.

In a continued effort to expand the X Games franchise globally, the first five minutes of X Games 14 aired live simultaneously on ESPN in the U.S. and across 12 ESPN International networks around the globe reaching 125 countries. Action sports fans in Australia, the Caribbean, Hong Kong, India, Israel, New Zealand, the Philippines, the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, South America, and the U.S. shared in the excitement as the world’s leading action sports event kicked off its annual competition.

Additional examples of audience growth include:

EXPN.com

There were more than 500,000 unique users to X Games content during the four-day event; More than 10,000 live chat questions; Participation by some of the biggest names in action sports as Brian Deegan and Danny Way blogged while Kevin Robinson, Bam Margera, Ricky Carmichael, Chris Cole and Blake "Bilko" Williams all chatted with fans; Successful iTunes store: EXPN video cast during X Games 14 was No. 4 among all sports video casts; EXPN video tab available on front page of ESPN.com player for first time.

ESPN360.com

Fans watching X Games 14 on ESPN360.com compiled a total of 4,538 hours spent viewing X Games content.

ESPN’s X Center

A 5% increase on overall rating from X Games 13

Mobile ESPN

For the first time more than 20,000 page views on mobile ESPN and Verizon MVP.
First-time fan voting for ESPN X Games “Athlete of the Games” via EXPN.com and mobile text voting.