Sure, the departure of big known names like Simmons and Olbermann are bound to grab a lot more page views than boring ratings stats, but it seems like not a single story focusing on the challenges for ESPN has noted how routinely ESPN2 is getting beaten by other sports networks this summer.
Last week was no exception. While the ESPN mothership led, as it almost always does, in primetime and total day numbers, NBC Sports Network edged ESPN2 out in total day viewing and in primetime Fox Sports 1, NBC Sports Network and MLB Network all had more viewers than ESPN2.
Primetime rankings for the week ending August 2, 2015:
| Net | Viewers (000) | Viewers 18-49 (000) |
| ESPN | 728 | 303 |
| FS1 | 458 | 215 |
| NBCS | 276 | 56 |
| MLBN | 243 | 99 |
| ESP2 | 237 | 93 |
| FOXD | 136 | 89 |
| NFLN | 117 | 61 |
| GOLF | 107 | 25 |
| ESNU | 105 | 37 |
| UDN | 97 | 60 |
| ENN | 95 | 54 |
| FS2 | 63 | 34 |
| NBAT | 44 | 17 |
| BEIN | 9 | 3 |
Total Day:
| Net | Viewers (000) | Viewers 18-49 (000) |
| ESPN | 420 | 222 |
| NBCS | 220 | 56 |
| ESP2 | 179 | 92 |
| MLBN | 147 | 62 |
| FS1 | 145 | 62 |
| GOLF | 120 | 25 |
| NFLN | 98 | 57 |
| ESNU | 54 | 22 |
| ENN | 53 | 33 |
| UDN | 48 | 30 |
| FOXD | 43 | 26 |
| NBAT | 28 | 14 |
| FS2 | 25 | 12 |
| BEIN | 7 | 2 |
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As of July 2015, here are the Nielsen coverage estimates for the sports networks listed above:
| Network name | Estimated # of Homes (000) | Coverage % |
| BEIN SPORT | 18,161 | 15.6 |
| ESPN | 92,940 | 79.8 |
| ESPN CLASSIC | 25,191 | 21.6 |
| ESPN2 | 92,855 | 79.8 |
| ESPNEWS | 71,293 | 61.2 |
| ESPNU | 73,091 | 62.8 |
| FOX DEPORTES | 21,534 | 18.5 |
| FOX SPORTS 1 (Formerly SPEED) | 84,309 | 72.4 |
| FOX SPORTS 2 (Formerly FUEL) | 46,659 | 40.1 |
| GOLF CHANNEL | 78,299 | 67.3 |
| MLB NETWORK | 68,342 | 58.7 |
| NBA-TV | 55,785 | 47.9 |
| NBC SPORTS NETWORK | 83,874 | 72.1 |
| NFL NETWORK | 70,466 | 60.5 |
| UNIVISION DEPORTES | 44,221 | 38.0 |