ESPN'S NFL COVERAGE UP 34% VS. 2005

LAST NIGHT, ESPN LEADS ALL NETWORKS FOR KEY MALE DEMOS

21.0 GROSS RATINGS POINTS ON TV, 25 MILLION PAGE VIEWS ON ESPN.COM

Last night, ESPN's Monday Night Football earned a 10.3 rating for the Denver Broncos' 13-3 victory over the previously unbeaten Baltimore Ravens, representing 9,455,000 homes (12,505,000 viewers, P2+), cable television's fourth-biggest audience of all time, and third-biggest this year, behind only previous MNF telecasts. It was the fourth-straight week that MNF earned a rating over a 10.

In addition, last night ESPN led all networks - cable or broadcast - in delivery of all key male demos. MNF continues to boost ESPN's ratings throughout the day; adding in the pre- and post-game shows, ESPN delivered 21.0 gross ratings points.

Online, ESPN.com's NFL and "Monday Night Surround" content viewed on computers and wireless devices generated more than 25 million page views Monday, up 50 percent over page views last year according to Web measurement tool HitBox. In addition, there were 1.46 million views of pro-football-related videos on ESPN Motion and ESPN360 on Monday (through Tuesday at noon).

For the NFL season to date, MNF on ESPN is averaging a 10.3 rating and 9,474,000 homes (12,867,000 P2+) for six games in five weeks. These represent increases of 34%, 37% and 36%, respectively, compared to the first five weeks of last year's ESPN Sunday Night Football (7.7 rating, 6.937 million homes, 9.466 million viewers). ESPN's six MNF games so far are cable television's best ratings and largest audiences of the year.

Last night's MNF telecast was simulcast on local over-the-air channels in Baltimore (21.2 rating) and Denver (24.3 rating), boosting ESPN's audience to an estimated average of 10,036,000 households. The total also includes those viewing in high definition on ESPN HD.

NEXT WEEK ON MNF

Next week, ESPN's MNF will feature the 5-0 Chicago Bears visiting the Arizona Cardinals, quarterbacked by Heisman Trophy-winning rookie Matt Leinart, in the team's new retractable-dome stadium at 8:30 p.m. The complete Monday NFL schedule on ESPN:

Time (ET) Program

3 - 5 p.m. SportsCenter Special Edition: Monday Night Kickoff

5 - 5:30 p.m. Around the Horn

5:30 - 6 p.m. Pardon the Interruption Presented by Guinness

6 - 7 p.m. NFL PrimeTime Presented by Miller Lite

7 - 8:30 p.m. Monday Night Countdown Delivered by UPS

8:30 - 11:30 p.m. Monday Night Football: Chicago Bears at Arizona Cardinals

11:30 p.m. - 1 a.m. SportsCenter