ESPN's Monday Night Football: Cable's Most-Watched Series for Sixth Straight Year

14 of 20 Biggest Cable Household Audiences of 2011; Saints-Falcons MNF Finale Helps ESPN Win the Night

For the sixth straight year, ESPN's Monday Night Football ranks as the most-watched series on cable television, drawing 14 of the calendar year's 20 biggest cable household audiences, and 13 of the top 20 among viewers. ESPN's 17 Monday Night Football telecasts in 2011 averaged a 9.7 rating (8.4 US rating), representing an average of 9,589,000 households (13,252,000 viewers - P2+), according to Nielsen.  Additionally, ESPN ranked as the No. 1 network each Monday night this season among the coveted key male demographics (M18-34 and M18-49).

In six seasons on ESPN, Monday Night Football has registered eight of the top 10 all-time biggest household audiences in cable history. (Only two 2011 Bowl Championship Series college football games - which also aired on ESPN - rank higher.)

MNF Season-Finale: Falcons-Saints

MNF ended its 42nd season on a strong note this week with the New Orleans Saints' 45-16 victory over NFC South rival Atlanta, as Saints quarterback Drew Brees broke Hall of Famer Dan Marino's 27-year-old NFL single-season passing record. The telecast delivered a 10.6 rating (9.2 US rating), representing an average of 10,530,000 households (15,638,000 viewers - P2+).  MNF led all the night's programs (broadcast or cable) among households, viewers and all key male and adult demos, making ESPN the top network for the night in all categories.

MNF on TV

Highlights for the 2011 NFL season:

* ESPN's MNF games rank as 14 of the 20 biggest audiences among households and 13 of the 20 biggest among total viewers for cable television in 2011;
* ESPN led all networks - cable or broadcast - in delivery of men 18-34 and 18-49 every Monday in prime time this season; ESPN was also No. 1 in men 25-54 in 15 of 16 weeks, and No. 1 among adults 25-54 on 10 Mondays;
* Four times, ESPN won the night as the most-watched network among households and five times among viewers - cable or broadcast - in prime time on Monday;
* ESPN's highest-rated MNF game of 2011 was the Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys (Sep. 26) with 12,173,000 households and 17,104,000 viewers based on a 12.3 rating.