After five straight weeks of declines, Monday’s battle between the winless Giants and the 1-4 Vikings gave ESPN a boost.
The Week 7 Vikings/Giants “Monday Night Football” game drew an 8.4 U.S. rating and 13.2 million viewers on ESPN, up 27% in ratings and 24% in viewership from Lions/Bears last year (6.6, 10.7M), and up 38% and 43%, respectively, from Ravens/Jaguars in 2011 (6.1, 9.3M).
Last year’s game aired opposite Game 7 of the NLCS and a presidential debate. The 2011 game aired opposite Game 5 of the World Series.
Monday’s game was the first “MNF” telecast to have an increase in ratings or viewership since the Week 1 doubleheader, snapping a five-week streak of declines. The game was also the highest rated and most-viewed “MNF” telecast in three weeks.
Among adults 18-49, Vikings/Giants earned a 4.9 rating — up 9% from last year (4.5), and up 49% from 2011 (3.3).
ESPN has averaged an 8.5 U.S. rating and 13.3 million viewers for NFL coverage through Week 7, down a tick in ratings and 1% in viewership from last year (8.6, 13.4M).
(Week 7 numbers from ESPN Media Zone)
