ESPN attracted the largest audience yet for its now traditional season opening Monday Night Football doubleheader.
Ravens/Jets — the first game of Monday’s doubleheader — drew a 9.4 U.S. rating and 14.973 million viewers on ESPN, up 6% in ratings and 7% in viewership from Bills/Patriots last year (8.9, 14.001 mil) and up 19% and 20%, respectively, from Vikings/Packers in 2008 (7.9, 12.501 mil).
The game ranks as the highest rated, most-viewed Week 1 Monday Night Football game ever on ESPN, topping last year’s Bills/Patriots tilt.
Additionally, the 14.973 million viewers is the most for any sporting event on cable in 2010, topping the previous high set by the January 31 Pro Bowl (12.297 mil).
In the nightcap, Chargers/Chiefs drew a 7.6 U.S. rating and 11.889 million viewers, even in ratings and down 0.5% in viewership compared to Chargers/Raiders last year (7.6, 11.945 mil) and up 23% in both compared to Broncos/Raiders in ’08 (6.2, 9.665 mil).
Chargers/Chiefs stands as the third-most viewed sporting event of the year on cable, behind Ravens/Jets and the Pro Bowl.
Overall, the Week 1 doubleheader averaged an 8.6 U.S. rating and 13.574 million viewers on ESPN, the network’s “highest-rated and most-viewed season-opening doubleheader since the format started in 2006.”
(ESPN)
