Triple-Digit Growth for Digital Audience; Second-Largest Attendance in Aspen History
X Games Aspen 2018 content across ESPN’s networks enjoyed double-digit usage growth on television, triple digit growth on digital and streaming services, while video growth across social media networks drove nearly 11 million video views.

Olympians were once largely anonymous athletes. The period leading up to the Olympic Games and directly thereafter was the prime (and sometimes only) opportunity to capitalize on their athletic notoriety. However, with the arrival of social media, athletes gained platforms – virtually overnight – that extended their time in the spotlight. Controlling their own narratives meant they were no longer at the mercy of a publicist or sponsor to connect them with fans or draw interest to their sports. Because of social media, Olympians entered the realm of the everyday professional athlete.