ESPN earned one of the largest television audiences in cable history for the Cowboys’ overtime loss Monday night.
The Week 8 Washington/Cowboys Monday Night Football game drew an 11.4 final rating and 18.8 million viewers on ESPN, up 70% in ratings and 75% in viewership from Seahawks/Rams opposite the World Series last year (6.7, 10.8M) and up 68% and 75%, respectively, from 49ers/Cardinals in 2012 (6.8, 10.7M). ESPN Deportes chipped in an additional 128,000 viewers for its coverage.
The Cowboys’ overtime loss ranks as easily the highest rated and most-watched Monday Night Football game this season, topping the previous highs of 9.2 and 14.9 million for Eagles/Colts in Week 2. Going back further, it was the highest rated MNF game since Patriots/Saints in November 2009 (12.9) and the most-watched since Saints/Falcons in December 2010 (19.1M).
Overall, the game drew the ninth-largest audience in cable television history — trailing three other Monday Night Football games, four BCS National Championship games, and the 2011 Rose Bowl. ESPN owns the ten largest cable audiences.
In a rarity, MNF ended up with a higher rating than NBC’s Sunday Night Football (11.4 to 10.9) and slightly more viewers (18.81M to 18.80M). This marks the first week since Week 15 of the 2011 season that MNF has tied or exceeded SNF in either category.
MNF drew a 6.9 rating among adults 18-49, up 64% from last year (4.2) and up 61% from 2012 (4.3).
On the strength of Monday’s performance, ESPN is now trending ahead of last year for Monday Night Football. The games have averaged an 8.6 rating and 14.0 million viewers, up 4% in ratings and 7% in viewership from last year (8.3, 13.1M).
(Mon. numbers from ESPN Media Zone)
