For the second time this season, final ratings for Monday Night Football marked a turnaround from the overnights.
The Week 4 Patriots/Chiefs Monday Night Football game drew an 8.8 final rating and 14.4 million viewers on ESPN, up 2% in ratings and 5% in viewership from Dolphins/Saints last year (8.6, 13.7M) and down 16% and 13%, respectively, from Bears/Cowboys in 2012 (10.5, 16.6M). The modest rise marked a reversal from the overnight, which was down a tick from last year.
Three of the five MNF telecasts this season have been either flat or up in ratings and viewership. With the exception of the Giants/Lions opener, which was down 17% in both measures, every MNF game been within single-digit percentage points of last year.
Patriots/Chiefs drew a 5.3 rating among adults 18-49, down 5% from last year (5.6) and down 22% from 2012 (6.8).
Through five telecasts, ESPN has averaged an 8.4 and 13.6 million viewers for MNF this season — down 5% in ratings and 3% in viewership from last year (8.8, 14.0M) and down 6% and 3%, respectively, from 2012 (8.9, 14.0M).
(Mon. numbers from ESPN, with additional info from TV By the Numbers)
