Overnight ratings dropped by nearly 20% for the second week of Monday Night Football on ESPN.
Monday’s Week 2 Rams/Giants game earned an 8.8 overnight rating on ESPN, down 17% from last year (NO/SF: 10.6), and down 13% from 2009 (IND/MIA: 10.1).
The 8.8 overnight is the lowest for a Monday Night Football game since Week 14 last season (BAL/HOU: 8.7).
This week’s game faced heavy competition on the other networks, including the season premiere of CBS’ Two and a Half Men (18.7 overnight).
All three Monday Night Football telecast windows have had declines in overnights versus last year. In Week 1, Patriots/Dolphins earned a 10.3 overnight (down 2%) and Raiders/Broncos drew a 7.7 (down 15%).
(This week’s numbers from Sports Business Daily [1], [2], with additional information from TV By the Numbers)
