If the other networks showed signs of a potential recovery this season, ESPN’s MNF ratings got off to an even worse start than a year ago.
Jets-Lions scored a 7.5 overnight rating on the season opener of ESPN’s Monday Night Football, down 4% from last year (Saints-Vikings: 7.8) and down 18% from 2016 (Pittsburgh-Washington: 9.1.).
The 7.5 is the lowest yet for the first game of the annual Week 1 MNF doubleheader. The previous low was set last year.
New York’s easy win, which peaked at a 9.0 from 9:30-9:45 PM ET, earned the sixth-lowest Week 1 MNF overnight ever — regardless of timeslot.
Later in the night, Rams-Raiders pulled a 7.0 overnight — even with last year (Chargers-Broncos: 7.0) and down a tick from 2016 (Rams-49ers: 7.1). ESPN assigned its primary MNF team to the late game this year, signaling that it was the game of the night, but that clearly had no impact on the numbers.
The Rams’ win, which was close throughout but ended as a rout, peaked at an 8.7 from 10:45-11 PM ET. The 7.0 is tied as the second-lowest for a Week 1 MNF game, ahead of Cardinals-49ers in 2007 (6.8).
[Numbers from Sports Business Daily 9.11]
