A rough season for Monday Night Football continued with yet more multi-year lows.
The Week 7 Texans/Broncos Monday Night Football game drew a 7.8 overnight rating on ESPN, down 13% from Ravens/Cardinals last year (9.0) and down 10% from Steelers/Texans in 2014 (8.7). The 7.8 is the lowest for MNF in Week 7 of the season in four years, since Lions/Bears had a 7.3 opposite a presidential debate and Game 7 of an MLB playoff series in 2012.
All eight MNF games this season have hit multi-year lows in the metered markets, with five of the past six down double-digits from both last year and 2014.
The Broncos’ win, which peaked at a 9.1 from 9:15-10 PM ET, was the fifth MNF telecast this season to have less than an 8.0 overnight. There were only two such telecasts all of last season, four in 2014 and three in 2013.
ESPN’s telecast had a 14.9 rating in Denver and a 14.1 in Houston. Coverage was simulcast on local affiliates in both markets, earning a 28.7 in independent Denver affiliate KTVD and a 9.0 on Houston CW affiliate KIAH. Las Vegas was the top neutral market with an 11.6, followed by New Orleans (11.1) and Albuquerque-Santa Fe (10.9).
(Mon. numbers from ESPN)
