Ratings and viewership dropped double-digits for Monday’s Patriots/Dolphins game, with the caveat that last year’s game was the top program in ESPN history.
ESPN drew a 9.0 U.S. rating and 13.971 million viewers for the Patriots’ blowout win Monday night, down 32% in ratings and 36% in viewership from Packers/Vikings in Week 4 last year (13.2, 21.839 mil), but up 20% and 19%, respectively, from Ravens/Steelers in Week 4 two years ago (7.5, 11.783 mil).
Last year’s Packers/Vikings game was (and still is) the top program in cable television history in households and total viewers.
Patriots/Dolphins is the first Monday Night Football game of the season to have a decline in ratings and the second to have a drop in viewership.
Despite the decline, the telecast was Monday night’s top program on broadcast or cable in all key adult and male demographics.
Through Week 4, ESPN is averaging a 9.3 U.S. rating and 14.786 million viewers for Monday Night Football, down 5% in ratings and 6% in viewership from last year (9.8, 15.684 mil).
(ESPN)
