Though the numbers were close to a season-low, Monday Night Football hit a multi-year high in the overnights.
The Week 10 Texans/Bengals Monday Night Football game drew an 8.6 overnight rating on ESPN, up 10% from Panthers/Eagles last year (7.8) and up 9% from Dolphins/Buccaneers in 2013 (7.9). The 8.6 is the highest for MNF in Week 10 of the season since Chiefs/Steelers in 2012 (9.0).
Despite the increase, the Texans’ win ranks as the third-lowest rated MNF telecast of the season in the metered markets — ahead of only Bears/Chargers the previous week (8.1) and Steelers/Chargers in Week 5 (8.5).
Overnights peaked with a 9.5 from 9:30-9:45 PM ET, marking the eighth time in nine weeks that MNF has peaked before 10 PM ET.
ESPN’s telecast had a 15.7 rating in Houston and a 15.6 in Cincinnati. The game was simulcast on local affiliates in both markets, earning a 10.4 on Houston CW affiliate KIAH and a 29.0 on Cincinnati NBC affiliate WLWT. Dayton (20.8), Columbus (13.5) and Las Vegas (12.4) rounded out the top five markets.
(Mon. numbers from ESPN)
