A low bar last year and a halftime movie trailer helped Monday Night Football ratings increase for the third time in four weeks.
Vikings-Bears drew a 6.1 rating and 10.3 million viewers on MNF last night, up 9% in ratings and 14% in viewership from Buccaneers-Panthers last year (5.6, 9.1M) but down 21% and 16% respectively from Steelers-Chargers in 2015 (7.7, 12.2M). ESPN’s Nielsen figures now include viewers who streamed the game on television.
The Vikings’ win, in which they led 3-2 at halftime, was the third MNF game in four weeks to post an increase. That is not saying much, considering that last year’s numbers were historically low, but up is up.
Monday’s game was no doubt helped by the premiere of the newest Star Wars movie trailer at halftime. Metered market ratings peaked during the halftime period (final peak figures were not immediately available).
In the key adult demographics, MNF increased 12% in adults 18-49 (from 3.3 to 3.7), 11% in adults 18-34 (2.7 to 3.0) and 8% in adults 25-54 (3.8 to 4.1). The biggest increase was in adults 50+, with ratings rising 13% from 3.75 to 4.24.
[Mon. numbers from Programming Insider 10.10, ShowBuzz Daily 10.10]
