The tenth season of Monday Night Football on ESPN got off to a good start in the overnights.
The Week 1 Vikings/49ers Monday Night Football game drew a 9.5 overnight rating on ESPN, up 22% from Cardinals/Chargers last year (7.8), up 23% from Texans/Chargers in 2013 (7.7), and the highest yet for the late game of ESPN’s annual MNF doubleheader (10 telecasts).
Only once before had the late game even topped a 9.0 overnight — Chargers/Chiefs in 2010 (9.1).
Eagles/Falcons drew a 9.8 earlier in the night, up 7% from Giants/Lions last year (9.2) but down 16% from Eagles/Washington in 2013 (11.6). The 9.8 is the second-highest for a Week 1 MNF game since 2011.
Despite the increases, the games were the lowest rated of Week 1 in the metered markets.
Locally, ESPN scored an 11.7 rating in Minneapolis and a 10.9 in the Bay Area for Vikings/49ers and a 14.6 in Philadelphia and a 9.9 in Atlanta for Eagles/Falcons. As usual, the games were simulcast on local affiliates in both markets. Vikings/49ers drew a 19.6 on Minneapolis CBS affiliate WCCO and a 15.0 on Bay Area CBS affiliate KPIX, while Eagles/Falcons drew a 17.0 on independent Philadelphia affiliate WPHL and a 15.8 on Atlanta ABC affiliate WSB.
(Mon. numbers from ESPN)
