ESPN Wins the Night Across All Networks in Key Demos

"MNF's" Raiders-Broncos Telecast Helps ESPN Win the Night among All Networks in All Key Male Demos and Adults 18-34 and 18-49

This week's Monday night football telecast - a Denver Broncos' 37-21 victory over the Oakland Raiders on September 23 - helped ESPN win the night among all networks - broadcast or cable - in all key male demos and adults 18-34 and 18-49. The MNF game ranked as the top telecast of the night across cable and broadcast in households, all the key male demos and adults 18-34 and 18-49.

The Raiders-Broncos telecast earned an 8.9 US rating, representing an average of 10,354,000 households and 13,918,000 viewers (P2+), according to Nielsen. Coverage peaked from 9:45-10 p.m. with a 10.7 US rating.

In San Francisco, the game delivered a 10.9 rating on ESPN and a 3.6 on KBCW-CW, for a combined 14.6 rating in the market. In Denver, the game delivered a 15.7 rating on ESPN and a 28.7 on KTVD-IND, for a combined 44.4 rating in the market.

The top 10 metered markets (in addition to the markets of the competing teams) were Sacramento (18.5), New Orleans (18.2), Albuquerque-Santa Fe (16.6), Las Vegas (16.0), San Diego (15.0), Indianapolis (14.5), Nashville (14.4), Kansas City (13.4), Knoxville (12.8) and Memphis (12.7).

Through three weeks (four games), ESPN's MNF is averaging an 8.9 US rating, 10,266,000 households and 14,052,000 viewers in 2013, increases of three percent, five percent and five percent, respectively, over the same period in 2012.

NFL on ESPN Digital Platforms

ESPN Digital Media's NFL content across all platforms - ESPN.com, mobile Web, apps and WatchESPN - through four MNF games so far this season have logged significant growth, generating an average minute audience of 598,000 during telecasts, an increase of 31 percent compared to the same time period last season. Specifically, Monday night's Raiders vs. Broncos game on WatchESPN logged 191,000 unique viewers, 13.3 million live minutes and an average minute audience of 68,000, up 85 percent, 101 percent and 113 percent respectively compared to a year ago. Season to date, MNF on WatchESPN is averaging 199,000 unique viewers (up 118 percent), 14.1 million live minutes (up 171 percent) and an average minute audience of 70,000 (up 177 percent) per game.

Additionally, season to date on Sundays, ESPN Digital Media's average minute audience across all platforms is 551,000, up 11 percent compared to the same time period the previous year. Other highlights:

· ESPN.com generated 3.4 million NFL video starts on Sunday alone, up 40 percent compared to the same day last year.

· Mobile apps logged the largest growth on Sunday, with the ScoreCenter app generating an average minute audience of 147,000 (up 45 percent) and 7.7 million unique visitors (up 13 percent) while the ESPN Fantasy Football app logged an average minute audience of 190,000 (up 106 percent) and 4.2 million unique visitors (up 80 percent).

This Week on MNF

ESPN's MNF returns this week on September 30 with a matchup of undefeated teams as Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints (3-0) host Ryan Tannehill and the Miami Dolphins (3-0) at 8:30 p.m. ET. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Monday's game marks the first time that two teams will meet on MNF with records of 3-0 or better since October 5, 1998 when the 4-0 Vikings defeated the 4-0 Packers, 37-24 at Lambeau Field.

To post a comment, you must register and login.