Ravens-Lions on ESPN Scores in the Ratings

Monday night’s Baltimore Ravens-Detroit Lions game won the cable primetime ratings with a 9.0 number. It averaged just over 14.15 million viewers. Baltimore saw a combined 40.2 rating (ESPN/WBAL) and Detroit garnered a 35.0 (ESPN/WXYZ).

Let’s take a look at the ESPN statement.

Monday Night Football logoESPN’s MNF: Ravens-Lions Telecast is Most-Watched Show on Monday Night

Monday night’s ESPN Monday Night Football telecast – a Baltimore Ravens’ 18-16 victory over the Detroit Lions – was the No. 1 show of the night across cable and broadcast in households, viewers and all key male and adult demos, helping ESPN win the night on Monday among all networks (broadcast or cable) in those same categories.

The Ravens-Lions telecast earned a 9.0 US rating, representing an average of 10,467,000 households and 14,164,000 viewers (P2+), according to Nielsen. Coverage peaked from 11:30-11:43 p.m. ET with a 10.4 US rating.

In Baltimore, the game delivered a 12.1 rating on ESPN and a 28.1 on WBAL-NBC, for a combined 40.2 rating in the market. In Detroit, the game delivered a 10.6 rating on ESPN and a 24.4 on WXYZ-ABC, for a combined 35.0 rating.

The top 10 metered markets (in addition to the markets of the competing teams) were San Diego (15.0), Las Vegas (14.6), Sacramento (14.5), Milwaukee (14.1), New Orleans (13.9), Norfolk, Va. (13.3), Chicago (13.3), Seattle-Tacoma (13.1), Tampa-St. Petersburg (12.9), and Phoenix (12.8).

Through 15 weeks (16 games), ESPN’s MNF is averaging an 8.7 US rating, 10,040,000 households and 13,708,000 viewers in 2013, increases of five, six and five percent, respectively, versus 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 16 Monday Night Football games over 15 days so far this season continue to log significant growth, generating an average minute audience of 621,000 during telecasts, an increase of 30 percent compared to the same time period last season.  Specifically, last night’s Ravens vs. Lions game on WatchESPN logged 12.5 million live minutes, 184,000 unique viewers, and an average minute audience of 64,000, up 257 percent, 187 percent and 250 percent respectively compared to a year ago.  Season to date, MNF on WatchESPN is averaging 186,000 unique viewers (up 110 percent), 13.0 million live minutes (up 144 percent) and an average minute audience of 66,000 (up 142 percent) per game.

Additionally, season to date on Sundays, ESPN Digital Media’s average minute audience across all platforms is 599,000, up 15 percent compared to the same time period the previous year.  Other highlights:

  • Mobile apps logged the largest growth on Sunday, with the SportsCenter app generating an average minute audience of 134,000 (up 41 percent) and 7.0 million unique visitors (up four percent)
  • ESPN Fantasy Football app logged an average minute audience of 134,000 (up 75 percent) and 3.5 million unique visitors (up 49 percent)

This Week’s MNF Season-Finale: 49ers Host Falcons in Final Regular-Season NFL Game at San Francisco’s Historic Candlestick Park

Monday Night Football concludes its 44th season this week when Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers host Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons in the final regular-season NFL game at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park on December 23 at 8:25 p.m. ET. Candlestick opened in 1960 and has been home to the 49ers since 1971. The stadium has also played host to more MNF games (36) than any other stadium in NFL history. In addition to the MNF telecast, Chris Berman will anchor ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown pregame show (6:30 p.m.) from the stadium with NFL analyst and 49ers Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young, and other special guests.

That is all.

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013. He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television. Fang celebrates the three Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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