ESPN drew healthy increases for its Monday Night Football season debut last night.
The first game of the MNF doubleheader, Vikings/Packers, drew a 9.3 cable rating and 12.5 million viewers, up 8% and 13% from an 8.6 cable rating and 11.1 million for Ravens/Bengals last year.
Meanwhile, the nightcap, Broncos/Raiders, drew a 7.3 cable rating and 9.7 million viewers, up 7% and 14% from a 6.9 cable rating and 8.5 million for the comparable Cardinals/49ers game in ’07.
The two games finished as the most viewed programs of the year on cable. In prime time (8-11 PM), ESPN was the most viewed network among households.
