The old Dan Hicks call “expect anything different?” seems apropros.
Colts/Jets earned a 6.0 overnight rating in the Week 14 edition of ESPN’s Monday Night Football, down 40% from Dallas/Washington last year (10.0), down 27% from Dolphins/Jets in 2014 (8.2), and per Sports Business Daily the lowest ever for MNF in Week 13 of the season.
The Colts’ blowout, which peaked at a 7.4 from 9:15-9:30 PM ET, earned the second-lowest MNF overnight of the season — topping only Falcons/Saints opposite a presidential debate in Week 3 (5.7). It was the fourth MNF telecast this season to sink below a 7.0 overnight, compared to zero such games the previous three seasons combined.
Monday was a return to poor form for ESPN, which scored its first increase of the season for Packers/Eagles the previous week. Not only have 14 of the 15 MNF telecasts this season declined from last year, but 13 have hit multi-year lows in the overnights.
ESPN’s telecast had a 12.6 rating in Indianapolis and a 9.7 in New York. Coverage was simulcast on local ABC affiliates in both markets, earning a 17.8 on WRTV in Indianapolis and a 4.3 on Channel 7 in New York.
(Mon. numbers from Sports Business Daily 12/6)
