“Monday Night Football” was crushed by the World Series overall, but managed to eke out a win among adults under 50.
The Week 8 Seahawks/Rams “Monday Night Football” game drew a season-low 6.7 U.S. rating and 10.8 million viewers on ESPN, down a tick in ratings and flat in viewership compared to 49ers/Cardinals last year (6.8, 10.7M), and down 15% and 11%, respectively, from Chargers/Chiefs in 2011 (7.9, 12.0M).
As mentioned above, Seahawks/Rams hit season-lows in both ratings and viewership. The previous marks were held by the Week 1 late game between the Texans and Chargers (7.1, 11.0M).
Six of the last seven “MNF” telecasts have had declines in ratings compared to last year.
Monday’s game was trounced head-to-head by Game 5 of the World Series on FOX (8.9, 14.4M). Among adults 18-49, however, the game managed to eke out a small victory — topping the World Series 4.2 to 4.1. In terms of raw viewership, “MNF” attracted 5.35 million adults under 50, while the World Series drew 5.26 million.
Locally, the ESPN telecast drew a 17.0 rating in Seattle and a 6.2 in St. Louis. The game was simulcast on local affiliates in both markets, earning a 19.4 on Seattle independent affiliate KONG, and a mere 4.7 on St. Louis CW affiliate KPLR.
The combined 10.9 rating in St. Louis was dwarfed by the 43.8 rating Game 5 of the Red Sox/Cardinals series drew on FOX.
(Mon. numbers from ESPN Media Zone, additional info from The Futon Critic)
