The Bears/Packers rivalry lifted “Monday Night Football” to a season-high.
The Week 9 Bears/Packers “Monday Night Football” game drew a 10.1 U.S. rating and 16.1 million viewers on ESPN, up 23% in ratings and 25% in viewership from Eagles/Saints last year (8.2, 12.9M), but down 6% and 4%, respectively, from Bears/Eagles in 2011 (10.7, 16.8M).
Bears/Packers is tied as the highest rated “MNF” telecast of the season, matching Eagles/Washington in Week 1. The game ranks as the second-most viewed, trailing Eagles/Washington (16.5M).
Monday’s game was also just the fourth of ten on ESPN this season to have an increase.
Among adults 18-49, “MNF” had a 6.1 rating — up 20% from last year (5.1), but down 12% from 2011 (6.9).
Locally, the ESPN telecast drew a 20.3 in Chicago and a 13.9 in Milwaukee. The game was simulcast in local affiliates in both markets, earning a 13.7 on independent Chicago affiliate WCIU and a 36.4 on Milwaukee ABC affiliate WISN.
(Week 9 finals from ESPN Media Zone; additional info from The Futon Critic)
