Two weeks after earning its lowest ever rating and viewership opposite the first presidential debate, Monday Night Football was back in record-low territory.
The Week 5 Buccaneers/Panthers Monday Night Football game had a 5.6 final rating and 9.1 million viewers on ESPN, down 27% in ratings and 26% in viewership from Steelers/Chargers last year (7.7, 12.2M) and down 32% and 31%, respectively, from Seattle/Washington in 2014 (8.2, 13.1M).
It was not immediately clear whether figures included Orlando or Raleigh-Durham, which were excluded from the overnights due to a recent hurricane.
The Buccaneers’ win scored the third-lowest rating in the history of Monday Night Football, ahead of only Broncos/Chargers on Christmas Even 2007 (5.1) and Falcons/Saints opposite the first presidential debate two weeks ago (4.9). It also earned the eighth-smallest audience in MNF history, with NFC or AFC South having played in eight of the bottom 11.
Figures do not include streaming viewership on WatchESPN (214K) or Spanish-language viewership on ESPN Deportes. With those numbers factored inm the game had 9.3 million viewers.
All six Monday Night Football games this season have hit multi-year lows in ratings and viewership, with Buccaneers/Panthers the lowest rated and least-watched Week 5 edition of the show. MNF is the only NFL telecast window this season to hit lows for each telecast.
In adults 18-49, MNF scored a 3.3 rating — down 26% from last year (4.5) and down 31% from 2014 (4.8).
(Mon. numbers from ESPN, ShowBuzz Daily 10/11)
