Overnights fell only slightly from last year, but Monday Night Football had another low number on ESPN.
The Week 9 Bills/Seahawks Monday Night Football game had a 7.8 overnight rating on ESPN, down 4% from Bears/Chargers last year (8.1) and down 8% from Giants/Colts in 2014 (8.5). The 7.8 is the lowest for MNF in Week 9 of the season since at least 2007.
All ten MNF games this season have hit a multi-year low in the metered markets. Seven of the ten have had less than an 8.0 overnight, including the past five straight, compared to just six such occurrences in the previous two seasons combined.
On a somewhat brighter note, Monday’s 4% decline was easily the smallest of the season for MNF — marking just the third time overnights have declined by single-digits.
ESPN’s telecast scored a 19.3 rating in Seattle and an 11.8 in Buffalo. Coverage was simulcast on local affiliates in both markets, earning a 24.7 on Seattle independent affiliate KONG and a 24.4 on Buffalo ABC affiliate WKBW. Outside of the home markets, Portland led the way with a 15.4, followed by New Orleans (11.8) and Richmond, VA (11.4).
(Mon. numbers from ESPN)
