The first quarter of 2022 is complete and for ESPN, it's a time to celebrate as the network experienced a ratings increase during that time.

ESPN reported Thursday that total day viewership in Q1 was up 32 percent versus last year. That growth was the network's best for the first three months of the year since 2017.

In primetime, viewership was up 40 percent. Its audience in the 18-49 demographic grew 36 percent and double that of the next closest competitor.

A range of major sporting events airing on ESPN fueled the big jump. January's College Football Playoff, NFL Week 18 doubleheader, and the inaugural Super Wild Card edition of Monday Night Football, in addition to coverage of the first major of the year in tennis, The Australian Open, were just a few to name.

But ESPN reported growth in its regular coverage of the NBA and the return of the NHL. And after only two races, Formula 1 on ESPN has seen its two largest TV audiences for Grand Prix coverage since 1995.

From a programming perspective, ESPN said all live editions of SportsCenter are up. The most-watched edition of SC is at midnight with an average of 550,000 viewers.

Debate shows First Take and Get Up saw its largest audiences ever during Q1 for their shows on Monday, January 17. That was the Monday after the NFL Playoffs' Super Wild Card Weekend.