ESPN had mixed results for its season-opening Monday Night Football doubleheader.
The Week 1 Giants/Lions Monday Night Football game drew a 9.2 overnight rating on ESPN, down 21% from Eagles/Washington last year (11.6) but up 14% from Ravens/Bengals in 2012 (8.1). Keep in mind last year’s game was the highest rated Week 1 telecast ever on ESPN in the metered markets.
The 9.2 overnight is the second-lowest for the Monday Night Football opener since 2008, ahead of only 2012. Overall, the game ranks fifth out of the nine MNF openers since ESPN began airing Monday night games in 2006.
The Chargers/Cardinals nightcap drew a 7.8 overnight, up a tick from Texans/Chargers last year (7.7) and down a tick from Chargers/Raiders in 2012 (7.9).
Locally, ESPN’s Giants/Lions telecast drew a 10.3 rating in Detroit and a 7.3 in New York. The game was simulcast on local broadcast affiliates in both markets, drawing a 20.3 on Detroit ABC affiliate WXYZ and a 16.6 on New York ABC affiliate WABC.
Chargers/Cardinals earned a 19.1 in San Diego and a 15.7 in Phoenix, with the local simulcast earning a 15.6 on independent San Diego affiliate KUSI and a 27.0 on independent Phoenix affiliate KTVK.
(Mon. numbers from ESPN)
