Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals Was Most Viewed Opening Night on ESPN

April 1, 2008 -- ESPN’s Major League Baseball Opening Night telecast – Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals on March 30 in the debut of Nationals Park – averaged 2,700,000 households and 3,656,000 viewers to become the most-viewed Opening Night ever on ESPN networks. The previous record audience was St. Louis at Cincinnati, April 3, 1994, which averaged 2,595,000 households and 3,612,000 viewers. The corresponding 2.8 rating for the Atlanta at Washington game was the highest-rated Opening Night since Chicago at Seattle in 1996 (3.4 rating).

This year’s Opening Night telecast included a special guest appearance in the booth by President George W. Bush, who had delivered the game’s ceremonial first pitch. President Bush joined ESPN commentators Jon Miller and Joe Morgan for the third inning and top of the fourth. During his appearance, Miller and Morgan surprised President Bush with a “K Zone” illustration showing where the President’s throw registered within the strike zone. Click here for a video clip of the entire appearance.

All ESPN MLB telecasts – Sunday, Monday and Wednesday Night Baseball – are aired in HD and all, for the first time, will include the use of “K Zone.” This week’s Sunday Night Baseball telecast, April 6, will feature division rivals when the Detroit Tigers host the Chicago White Sox at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Miller and Morgan call Sunday Night Baseball games with baseball insider Peter Gammons. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN Radio with Gary Thorne and Dave Campbell on the call. ESPN Deportes will televise the game with Ernesto Jerez, analyst Candy Maldonado and reporter Guillermo Celis.

Source: ESPN