ESPN tied a season-high for Monday Night Football but again hit a multi-year low in the metered markets.
The Week 4 Giants/Vikings Monday Night Football game had a 9.1 overnight rating on ESPN, down 8% from Lions/Seahawks last year (9.9) and down 5% from Patriots/Chiefs in 2014 (9.6). The 9.1 is the lowest for MNF in Week 4 of the season since Colts/Buccaneers in 2011 (8.0).
All five MNF telecasts on ESPN this season have hit a multi-year low in the overnights. Not including last Thursday’s Dolphins/Bengals game on NFL Network, overnights for which were unavailable, 18 of the first 25 NFL telecasts this season have posted declines.
Despite the low numbers, Monday’s 9.1 overnight is tied as the highest of the young season on ESPN, matching Pittsburgh/Washington in Week 1.
ESPN’s telecast, which peaked nationally at a 10.7 from 9:45-10 PM ET, scored an 11.6 rating in Minneapolis-St. Paul and a 9.9 in New York City. The game was simulcast on local affiliates in both markets, earning a 29.5 on Minneapolis CBS affiliate WCCO and a mere 4.7 on Channel 11 in NYC.
(Mon. numbers from ESPN)
