'Monday Night Football' scores lowest ratings since 2006

[left-of-center2012]

While rookie quarterback Sam Darnold brought new hope to New York Jets’ fans, a couple of lopsided scores drove Week 1 ratings of “Monday Night Football” to their lowest level since ESPN acquired the NFL package in 2006. The Jets’ 48-17 annihilation of the Detroit Lions drew a 7.5 overnight Nielsen rating — down 4 percent from a 7.8 rating for the TV franchise’s early game a year ago.

The Los Angeles Rams’ 33-13 win over the Oakland Raiders earned a 7 rating — the same as the opening late game in 2017.

Their combined 14.5 rating, however, represented the lowest opening Monday for “MNF.” The only opening overnight lower than the 7 recorded for Monday’s Rams-Raiders matchup was a 6.8 rating in 2007, when the San Francisco 49ers eked out a win over the Arizona Cardinals.

This year’s results didn’t establish any viewing patterns. After swooning to a decade low on the opening Thursday game, ratings posted gains for three out of four NFL telecasts on Sunday — only to retreat again on Monday.

https://nypost.com/2018/09/11/monday-night-football-scores-lowest-ratings-since-2006/

[J_William_Ryan]

1. In the age of streaming,

Hulu, and Netflix, Nielsen ratings are meaningless.

[brewens]

3. Take into account that many don't get ESPN that carries the Monday night games.

I have the rock bottom DISH package. That gets me all the Sunday games on local stations. If I really want to see the Monday night game, I have to go to the bar or a buddies house, and I usually don't. They have no way of counting me most times I do watch.

[still_one]

2. In spite of all that, football is still the most viewed sport in this country, with the highest

ratings compared to other sports.

Of course the Post would push this to try to imply that there are less viewers because of trump's rage against the NFL players keeling, when in fact it is much more complicated than that, including people cutting the cord, viewing sports through streaming vehicles, etc.

[ProfessorGAC]

5. Your Last Phrase: + A Million

There is not yet a good way to validate the number of people watching on other than broadcast/cable/satellite TV. The more people watching by streaming means a lower ratings number, but very well might not represent actually lower ratings.

[snowybirdie]

4. Monday nights

are usually night before work too. Fewer want to stay up til midnight. Perhaps the NFL is overdoing it with Sunday, Monday and now Thursday nights devoted to sports?