It was still on the low side, but Browns-49ers hit four-year highs in ratings and viewership on ESPN.
Browns-49ers averaged a 6.5 rating and 11.13 million viewers on ESPN’s Monday Night Football last night, marking the highest rated and most-watched Week 5 MNF game since 2015 (Steelers-Chargers: 7.7, 12.18M).
San Francisco’s easy win, which peaked with 13.11 million viewers from 9:15-9:30 PM ET, increased 3% in ratings and 6% in viewership from last year (Washington-New Orleans: 6.3, 10.51M) and 7% and 8% respectively from 2017 (Vikings-Bears: 6.1, 10.28M).
It was the fourth of six Monday night games this season to post an increase, and the third to hit a multi-year high.
MNF is now averaging a 6.7 and 11.50 million (+1%) for the season.
ESPN’s telecast averaged a 19.6 rating in Cleveland and an 8.4 in the Bay Area. The game was simulcast on local broadcast affiliates in both markets, earning an 11.0 on Cleveland NBC affiliate WKYC and a 13.8 on Bay Area ABC affiliate KGO.
Sacramento was the top neutral market with a 15.7 rating, followed by Columbus, Ohio (15.1), San Diego (9.8) and Las Vegas (9.7). New Orleans — which typically ranks among the highest rated NFL markets — is no longer included in Nielsen overnight ratings.
In adults 18-49, MNF scored a 3.9 rating (+8%), the highest in Week 5 since 2015 (4.5). It also had a 3.0 in adults 18-34 (even).
Spanish-language coverage on ESPN Deportes averaged 63,000, bringing the total audience up to 11.2 million.
[Nielsen estimates from ESPN PR 10.8, ESPN PR, ShowBuzz Daily 10.8 a, b]
