ESPN's Monday Night Football Wins the Night in Key Male and Adult Demos among All Networks in Prime Time

Last night, ESPN's Monday Night Football - a 29-20 New York Jets' victory over Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings, which was delayed 45 minutes due to severe weather - earned a 12.5 household coverage rating (10.7 US rating), representing an average of 12,454,000 households (17,313,000 viewers - P2+), according to Nielsen.

As it has each week this season, MNF led all programs (broadcast or cable) in all key male and adult demos and helped ESPN win the night among all networks in those same categories. The game ranks as the second-most most-viewed program on cable television this year, as well as the sixth-most viewed program in cable television history in both households and viewers.

Through the first five weeks (six games), ESPN's MNF is averaging an 11.1 household rating, 11,061,000 households (15,240,000 viewers), even to date in all measurements versus 2009. ESPN MNF games rank as the seven biggest audiences among households and the six biggest among total viewers for cable television in 2010 (including the 2009 MNF season finale - Minnesota vs. Chicago, 12/28/09 - which falls within the Nielsen 2010 calendar).

ESPN.com had more than 228 million page views (a seven percent increase) and 237 million minutes (a 21 percent gain) generated with NFL content on Sunday and Monday. ESPN's Mobile web site had 52 million page views and more than 88 million minutes (up 28 percent), spent with NFL content on the ESPN mobile web site and ScoreCenter App.

NEXT WEEK ON MNF

ESPN's MNF returns next week (Oct. 18) with Chris Johnson and the Tennessee Titans facing David Garrard and the Jacksonville Jaguars at 8:30 p.m. ET. ESPN's game around the game coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. with NFL Live and continues throughout the afternoon.