Broncos-Chargers Delivers 9.6 Rating and 12.8 Million Viewers
Last night’s ESPN Monday Night Football game – the Denver Broncos’ dramatic 35-24 come-from-behind road victory over the San Diego Chargers, tied for the fourth-biggest regular-season comeback in NFL history – won the night among all programs – broadcast or cable – in all key male and adult demos. As a network, ESPN won the night in all key male demos and adults 18-34 and 18-49.
The game earned a 9.6 household coverage rating (8.2 US), representing an average of 9,421,000 households (12,841,000 viewers – P2+) according to Nielsen. The game peaked between 11:15-11:45 p.m. ET at an 11.6 household coverage rating.
In Denver, the game delivered a 15.2 rating on ESPN and a 21.1 rating on KTVD-IND, for a combined 36.3 rating in the market. In San Diego, the game delivered a 14.0 rating on ESPN and a 21.1 rating on KFMB-CBS, for a combined 35.0 rating in the market. The top-10 rated metered markets (not including primary home team markets): Las Vegas (17.9), New Orleans (16.4), Indianapolis (14.3), Albuquerque, N.M. (13.7), Phoenix (13.0), Birmingham, Ala. (11.6), Charlotte (11.5), Kansas City (11.3), Norfolk/Portsmouth, Va. (11.2) and Seattle (11.0).
Through the first six weeks of the NFL season (seven games), ESPN’s MNF is averaging a 10.3 household coverage rating (8.9 US), 10,112,000 households and 13,819,000 viewers, increases of four percent, three percent and three percent, respectively, from the same point last season.
ESPN Digital Platforms
ESPN also saw significant traffic across its digital platforms on Sunday and Monday:
- ESPN.com NFL section – An average minute audience of 33,000 was up 24 percent from last year and 3.9 million unique visitors, down slightly compared to the same two days last season.
- ESPN.com Fantasy Football section – An average minute audience of 68,000, a 56 percent increase, and 3.1 million unique visitors (up one percent from last year).
- ESPN mobile Web NFL section – An average minute audience of 48,000, up 80 percent, reaching 3.5 million unique visitors, a 15 percent gain.
NFC North Showdown on MNF Next Week
Next week, ESPN’s MNF returns with an NFC North division showdown as Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions travel to Chicago on October 22 to face Jay Cutler and the first-place Bears at 8:30 p.m.
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