"MNF" Exec Producer Don Ohlmeyer "might leave the show
or cut back his role after one season," according to USA
TODAY's Rudy Martzke, who writes that Ohlmeyer's future
"could have an impact" on analyst Dennis Miller, whose
contract option ABC "is expected to pick up." Meanwhile,
Martzke notes that Monday's Rams-Bucs game earned a 15.2
Nielsen rating, the second-highest of the season behind the
15.3 for Broncos-Rams on opening night. ABC's overall 12.8
average rating for "MNF" is 8% below last year's 13.9.
However, Martzke notes that "'MNF' still ranks No. 6 among
all prime-time shows." ABC's drop comes as ESPN's NFL games
are down 12% from last year, CBS games are down 9% and Fox
games are down 2% (USA TODAY, 12/20). The HOLLYWOOD
REPORTER's Michele Greppi reports that Rams-Bucs earned
ABC's "MNF" its best rating in the 18-49 demo "in more than
a year," with a 9.9/26. The game's total audience was an
estimated 46 million viewers (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 12/20).
In Tampa, Joey Johnston reports that more than 500,000 HHs
in the Tampa area tuned in, making it the most-watched "MNF"
game on WFTS-ABC since it became an ABC affil in '94. In
the Tampa-St. Pete market, the game averaged a 35.6/54.
Each rating point equals 15,000 HHs. In the game's closing
moments, the game had a 64 share (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 12/20).
