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.

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 from 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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Media contact: Ben Cafardo at 860-766-3496 or ben.cafardo@espn.com (@Ben_ESPN).