"MNF" Helps ESPN Win the Night among All Networks in Viewers and Key Male and Adult Demos

Last night's Monday Night Football telecast - a Cincinnati Bengals' 20-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers - helped ESPN win the night among all networks - broadcast or cable - in viewers and all key male and adult demos. The MNF game ranked as the top telecast of the night across cable and broadcast in the key male and adult demos (second among households and viewers).

The Bengals-Steelers telecast earned a 9.1 US rating, representing an average of 10,485,000 households and 14,329,000 viewers (P2+), according to Nielsen. Coverage peaked from 10-10:15 p.m. with a 10.4 US rating.

In Pittsburgh, the game delivered an 11.9 rating on ESPN and a 27.9 on WTAE-ABC, for a combined 39.8 rating in the market. In Cincinnati, the game delivered a 14.4 rating on ESPN and a 23.9 on WLWT-NBC, for a combined 38.3 rating in the market.

The top 10 metered markets (in addition to the markets of the competing teams): Dayton, Ohio (21.8), Baltimore (16.7), Richmond-Petersburg, Va. (16.3), New Orleans (16.2), Columbus, Ohio (15.6), Washington, D.C. (14.1), San Diego (13.9), Sacramento (13.5), Las Vegas (13.2) and Nashville (13.1).

Through two weeks (three games), ESPN's MNF is averaging an 8.8 US rating, 10,237,000 households and 14,095,000 viewers in 2013, increases of 10 percent, 12 percent and 14 percent, respectively, over the same period in 2012.

NFL on ESPN Digital Platforms Continues to Grow

ESPN Digital Media's NFL content across all platforms - ESPN.com, mobile Web, apps and WatchESPN - through three Monday Night Football games so far this season have logged significant growth, generating an average minute audience of 550,000 during telecasts, an increase of 23 percent compared to the same time period last season. Specifically, last night's Steelers vs. Bengals game on WatchESPN logged its second best NFL game ever with 179,000 unique viewers, 12.3 million live minutes and an average minute audience of 60,000, up 66 percent, 98 percent and 113 percent respectively compared to a year ago. Last week's Redskins vs. Eagles game maintains its No. 1 spot as the best NFL game ever on WatchESPN (256,000 unique viewers, 19.5 million minutes and an average minute audience of 88,000). Season to date, MNF on WatchESPN is averaging 202,000 unique viewers (up 131 percent), 14.4 million live minutes (up 203 percent) and an average minute audience of 71,000 (up 206 percent) per game.

Additionally, on Sunday, ESPN Digital Media's average minute audience across all platforms was 615,000, up 17 percent compared to the previous year. Other highlights:

· 60 percent of ESPN's total digital audience on Sunday came from mobile, up from 50 percent compared to the same day last year.

· At its peak hour, ESPN digital platforms peaked in terms of unique visitors on ESPN.com (2.7 million), ScoreCenter app (2.5 million), Fantasy Football app (2.1 million) and the ESPN mobile Web (1.7 million).

NEXT WEEK ON MNF

ESPN's MNF returns next week on September 23 with Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos (2-0) hosting Terrelle Pryor and the Oakland Raiders (1-1) at 8:30 p.m. ET. It is a record 17th Monday night meeting all time between the AFC West rivals. The Broncos' upcoming appearance on MNF also marks the NFL's longest current streak for a team playing on MNF (22 consecutive seasons, 1992-present).