In a down year for Monday Night Football, even the high water mark was lower than usual.
The Week 16 Bengals/Broncos Monday Night Football game drew a 9.4 final rating and 15.8 million viewers on ESPN, down 3% in ratings and 1% in viewership from the same matchup last year (9.7, 16.0M) but up 18% and 19%, respectively, from Falcons/49ers in 2013 (8.0, 13.2M).
The Broncos’ overtime win, which peaked at an 11.3 and 18.6 million from 11:30-11:45 PM ET, ranks as the highest rated and most-watched game of the season on ESPN. The previous highs were a 9.0 and 14.4 million for Lions/Seahawks in Week 4. This season was the first in the history of Monday Night Football in which no game hit the 10.0 mark.
Monday’s game was the third straight on ESPN to have a decline in ratings and viewership and the fourth of the past five. Overall, 11 of the 17 games on ESPN had a decline in one or both measures.
MNF scored a 4.8 rating among adults 18-49, down 6% from last year (5.1) and up 7% from 2013 (4.5). It dominated a light night on television in the demo, more than tripling the night’s top non-sports program — Love and Hip Hop 6 on VH1 (1.5).
The full Monday Night Football schedule averaged an 8.1 rating and 12.9 million viewers on ESPN, down 2% in ratings and 3% in viewership from last year (8.3, 13.3M) and down 6% in both measures from 2013 (8.6, 13.7M). ESPN’s viewership does not include streaming coverage on the WatchESPN app (178K) or Spanish-language coverage on ESPN Deportes (69K).
Ratings were the lowest for Monday Night Football since 2008 (7.6) and viewership was the lowest since 2012 (12.8M). Overall, this season ranks as the third-lowest rated and fifth-least watched in MNF history. Despite a historically weak season, MNF was still the night’s top program among adults 18-49 in 15 of 16 weeks.
MNF Season Average and Season-High Since Moving to ESPN
| Year | Season Avg. | Season-High | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rtg. | Vwrs. | Game | Rtg. | Vwrs. | |
| 2015 | 8.1 | 12.90M | Bengals Broncos |
9.4 | 15.81M |
| 2014 | 8.3 | 13.35M | Wash. Cowboys |
11.4 | 18.81M |
| 2013 | 8.6 | 13.68M | See below* | 10.2 | 16.52M |
| 2012 | 8.2 | 12.83M | Bears Cowboys |
10.5
|
16.62M
|
| 2011 | 8.4 | 13.25M | See below^ |
10.7
|
17.10M
|
| 2010 | 9.1 | 14.66M | See below# |
11.2
|
19.14M
|
| 2009 | 9.0 | 14.38M | Packers Vikings |
13.2
|
21.84M
|
| 2008 | 7.6 | 11.96M | Eagles Cowboys |
11.3
|
18.61M
|
| 2007 | 7.3 | 11.23M | Patriots Ravens |
11.1
|
17.52M
|
| 2006 | 8.2 | 12.33M | Giants Cowboys |
10.5
|
16.03M
|
| *: In 2013, Cowboys/Bears was the highest rated (10.2) and Eagles/Washington the most-watched (16.5M) ^: In 2011, Bears/Eagles was the highest rated (10.7) and Washington/Cowboys the most-watched (17.1M). #: In 2010, Saints/Falcons and Giants/Cowboys tied the highest rating, and the former was the most-watched (19.1M). |
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(Mon. numbers and season avg. from ESPN; additional info via ShowBuzz Daily)
