Though up from last year, the latest edition of “Monday Night Football” suffered mightily opposite the presidential debate and the baseball playoffs.
The Week 7 Lions/Bears “Monday Night Football” game drew a 6.6 U.S. rating and 10.664 million viewers on ESPN, up 8% in ratings and 15% in viewership from Ravens/Jaguars last year (6.1, 9.275M), but down 41% and 44%, respectively, from Giants/Cowboys in 2010 (11.2, 17.953M).
The game ranks as the lowest rated and least-viewed “MNF” telecast of the season.
Monday’s game aired opposite coverage of the presidential debate (59.2M) and Game 7 of the Cardinals/Giants National League Championship Series.
Lions/Bears actually beat Game 7 head-to-head in ratings (6.6 to 4.9), viewership (10.7M to 8.1M) and the adults 18-49 demographic (4.5 to 2.4), but the baseball game likely stole away some viewers.
It should be pointed out that last year’s game also faced tough competition, airing opposite Game 5 of the World Series (14.3M).
So far this season, ESPN has averaged an 8.6 U.S. rating and 13.420 million viewers for NFL coverage (eight telecasts).
(Monday’s numbers from ESPN)
