ESPN "MNF" Audience Declines For Second Straight Season, But Still Tops On Cable

ESPN averaged an 8.2 U.S. rating and 12.8 million viewers for its “MNF” games this season, marking the second straight season of declines for the primetime cable package. The net’s 17 games were down 2% and 3%, respectively, from last season and down 10% and 12%, respectively, from the record-setting averages in ’10. With the final “MNF” telecast moved to a Saturday night to avoid Christmas Eve, the net drew a 6.0 rating and 9.7 million viewers for the Dec. 22 Falcons-Lions matchup, marking the least-viewed “MNF” telecast since Jaguars-Texans on Dec. 1, 2008. The net’s best telecast was Bears-Cowboys in Week 4, with the Oct. 1 game drawing a 10.5 rating and 16.6 million viewers. Despite a year-over-year drop for the package, each “MNF” telecast remained the most-viewed telecast on all of cable TV each week.