MNF Sets Cable Ratings Record

The highly anticipated Monday Night Football game between the Vikings and Packers earlier this week set the all-time ratings record for a cable TV broadcast. It pulled in nearly 22 million viewers and in doing so even beat out every show on broadcast TV for the evening including the juggernaut Dancing With the Stars which averaged just under 18 million viewers over its two hour airing.

While cable TV has seen a rise in ratings as household access and viewership continues to increase over the years these are still staggering numbers. MNF was expected to see a significant drop-off when it moved from ABC to ESPN in 2006 but that hasn’t been the case. The previous cable high was set last year with an Eagles vs Cowboys MNF game. The intrigue of Brett Favre going up against his former team was enough to beat that record by over three million viewers.