Ratings Roundup: FOX Sports Delivers Most Watched Westminster Dog Show Since '21; FS1 Earns Most-Watched CBB Game Ever

Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week's edition, ESPN sees the most viewed Australian Open in six years with 29% YoY growth; 2026 NHL Stadium Series delivered the most watched regular season NHL game ever on cable; and more.

NHL on ESPN Networks: Viewership Up Nearly 40% Year-Over-Year Through First Four Months

ESPN's NHL viewership is up in multiple ways over halfway through the 2025-26 season and leading into the Olympic Winter Games break. Across ABC and ESPN, the NHL on ESPN is averaging 795K viewers, 39% YoY.

Growth was seen across multiple tentpole events, including the Opening Night tripleheader (Oct. 7, 2025) which delivered 768K viewers.

In the early window, Chicago Blackhawks-Florida Panthers averaged 743K views, 114% vs. 2024 opening night early window (St. Louis Blues-Seattle Kraken).

The Pittsburgh Penguins-New York Rangers matchup delivered 1.1M viewers, 38% vs, the 2024 primetime window (Boston Bruins-Florida Panthers).

Penguins-Rangers also delivered ESPN's second-best opening night game on cable behind the Blackhawks-Penguins in 2023.

ESPN continued to see early viewership success with the third Frozen Frenzy (Oct. 28, 2025) with all 16 teams in action.

The tripleheader (Penguins-Philadelphia Flyers; Washington Capitals-Dallas Stars; Los Angeles Kings-San Jose Sharks) was 20% YoY on ESPN.

The first ABC Hockey Saturday of the season (Jan. 3, 2026) delivered ESPN's second-most viewed regular season game of the new rights deal.

Penguins-Detroit Red Wings averaging 1.6M viewers, 89% vs. last year's NHL on ABC average and 51% vs, last year's first ABC Hockey Saturday game.

The 2026 NHL Stadium Series (Feb. 1, 2026) between the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning delivered the most-viewed regular season game ever on cable.

2.1M viewers, 30% vs. last year's Stadium Series (Red Wings-Columbus Blue Jackets).

It was also the most-viewed Stadium Series game on cable and ESPN's most-viewed NHL regular season game on record.

The NHL on ESPN is also experiencing significant growth in demos with females, 40% YoY and P2-17 58% YoY.

Through 22 games, the NHL on ESPN networks is averaging 795K viewers, 39% YoY.

FOX Sports Delivers Most-Watched Westminster Dog Show Since 2021

FOX Sports delivered the most-watched Westminster Dog Show since 2021 with 600,000 viewers watching Penny the Doberman Pinscher win Best in Show at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Tuesday on FS1.

Up 36% vs. 2025 (441,000) viewers

Tuesday's telecast peaked with 726,000 viewers from 10:30 - 10:45pm ET

429,000 viewers watched Monday's night 1 telecast on FS1, up 36% vs. 2025 (316,000 viewers)

Monday's night 1 telecast peaked with 517,000 viewers from 9:45 - 10:00pm ET

College GameDay Covered by State Farm Sees Early Season Growth

Men's College Basketball GameDay

Jan 31 2026

Most-watched regular season Saturday morning episode since 2015

Up 26% YoY through two episodes

Women's College Basketball GameDay

Feb 1 2026

Most-watched cable episode since 2023-24 season

Up 24% YoY

ESPN Delivers Six of Top Seven Men's Basketball Games of the Week; Women's CBB on ESPN Pacing up 39% YoY

Mens College Basketball (Jan 26 Feb 1)

Kentucky vs Arkansas

2.4M viewers

ESPN's most-watched game this season

Most-watched sports telecast of the day (1/31)

BYU vs Kansas

2.1M viewers

ESPN's 2nd most-watched game this season

Alabama vs Florida

1.5M viewers

Most-watched MCBB game on ABC since 2008-09

Women's College Basketball (Feb. 1)

Oklahoma vs UT Austin

1.1M viewers

Peak: 1.3M viewers

Second most-watched women's game across all networks this season

ESPN's Studio Show Lineup Scores Record Highs, Double-Digit Growth & More Big Viewership Wins in Jan.

ESPN's signature studio show lineup built on its record-setting 2025, with the lineup in its entirety seeing a 13% year-over-year viewership increase in Jan., featuring record months, multi-year highs and significant growth for programs across its daily schedule.

On Monday, Jan. 19, following the NFL Divisional Round and ahead of the College Football Playoff National Championship, fans fueled milestone episodes for Get Up, First Take and The Pat McAfee Show, with the 7 a.m. ET edition of SportsCenter delivering its best episode of the month the following morning (Jan. 20).

Record setting Jan.: Best month ever for Get Up & The Pat McAfee Show

Get Up: Averaged 518,000 viewers | Up 3% vs. the previous high (Jan. 2024) | Third-best episode ever on Jan. 19, with 697,000 viewers

The Pat McAfee Show: averaged 575,000 viewers (linear and digital) | Up 15% vs. the former record (Dec. 2025) | Second-best show ever on Jan. 19 with 915,000 viewers (linear and digital)

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2026/02/06/ratings-roundup-fox-sports-deli...
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