Like “Sunday Night Football” on NBC, ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” is in the midst of a minor slump.
The Week 4 Dolphins/Saints “Monday Night Football” game drew an 8.6 U.S. rating and 13.7 million viewers on ESPN, down 18% in ratings and 17% in viewership from Bears/Cowboys last year (10.5, 16.6M), but up 23% and 27%, respectively, from Colts/Buccaneers in 2011 (7.0, 10.8M).
Monday’s declines were the largest of the season for any primetime NFL telecast.
Dolphins/Saints was the third-straight “MNF” telecast to have a decline in ratings and viewership. Of course, it should be pointed out that the comparable games last year were three of the four highest-rated of the season.
Among adults 18-49, Monday’s game had a 5.6 rating — down 18% from last year (6.8), but up 24% from 2011 (4.5).
Locally, the ESPN telecast drew a 21.7 rating in New Orleans and a 13.1 in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale. The game was simulcast on local broadcast affiliates in both markets, earning a 39.3 on New Orleans NBC affiliate WDSU and a paltry 4.0 on Miami CW affiliate WSFL.
Through Week 4, ESPN has averaged an 8.8 U.S. rating and just under 14.0 million viewers for NFL coverage this season — down a tick in ratings and flat in viewership compared to last year (8.9, 14.0M).
(Mon. numbers from ESPN; A18-49 numbers from The Futon Critic)
