The ESPN networks reported that they averaged their largest audience ever for the second quarter, boosted by a record June for ESPN.

The combination of ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPN Classic, ESPNU and ESPN Deportes averaged 1.13 million households in the quarter (March 29 – June 27), an increase of 2 percent over last year (1.11 million).

The ESPN network set a new mark in June with a 24-hour average of 817,000 homes, up 24 percent from 2009 (659,000) and breaking the record set in 2008 (673,000). Viewership was boosted during the month by the performance of 36 World Cup matches, including ESPN’s most-watched ever (U.S. vs. Algeria, June 23), as well as The Masters and the first-ever prime-time NFL Draft.

The networks reported that ESPN2’s total-day audience was up 8 percent (from 294,000 to 317,000 homes), and ESPNEWS was up 12 percent (from 55,000 to 62,000 homes).