ESPN's "MNF" Audience Sees Gains In '13 After Losing Viewers The Past Two Seasons

ESPN finished its slate of “MNF” telecasts this season with an 8.6 average rating and 13.7 million viewers, marking the third-best “MNF” average since the net acquired the package before the ’06 season. This season's averages were up 5% and 7%, respectively, from an 8.2 rating and 12.8 million viewers last season. The increase comes after two consecutive seasons of declines for "MNF." For the eighth straight year, “MNF” ranked as cable’s most-viewed series, drawing six of cable’s top 10 audiences for the calendar year. Since ’06, “MNF” has registered five of the top 10 all-time largest cable TV audiences. This season also marked the 27th consecutive year that ESPN’s primetime NFL package was cable’s most-viewed series. ESPN was the most-watched network in primetime -- cable or broadcast -- eight times on Monday nights during the ’13 season. The most-viewed “MNF” game this season was Eagles-Redskins in Week 1 on Sept. 9 with a 10.1 rating and 16.5 million viewers. New Orleans was the top market for “MNF” telecasts this season, averaging a 16.8 local rating. The top five was rounded out by Sacramento (14.6), Las Vegas (14.3), San Diego (13.7) and Richmond (13.3) (THE DAILY).