ESPN typically shares the ratings for Monday Night Football on Wednesdays. However, this week things are a bit different. Many YouTube TV customers missed the Cardinals-Cowboys game due to a blackout, which means ESPN might not release the viewer numbers as usual.
This blackout affected millions. The audience numbers will be interesting to see once they’re revealed. According to sports analyst Bryan Fischer, the effects of this can already be seen in ESPN’s college football ratings. His data shows that College GameDay dropped from 2.5 million viewers the week before to 2 million—a decrease of 20%.
The Saturday afternoon ABC games also experienced a noticeable decline. Previously, the average viewership was 6.6 million, 7.8 million, and 6.8 million. Following the blackout, the same time slots fell to an average of 4.5 million, 7.8 million, and 4.8 million.
As for the Cardinals-Cowboys matchup, it will likely be compared to last year’s Week 9 game featuring the Buccaneers and Chiefs. Both games include well-known teams, which helps in making a fair comparison. However, this year’s ratings could be boosted by Nielsen’s new Big Data + Panel formula, which has generally improved broadcast ratings.
In the larger context, this situation highlights how much sport ratings can fluctuate based on platform availability. Also, with the rise of streaming services, many viewers are changing how and where they watch sports, making it even more critical for networks to adapt quickly.
It remains to be seen how ESPN presents the viewing figures, especially if they can frame the numbers favorably despite the blackout. Whatever the outcome, viewers and analysts will be watching closely.
For more insights on how viewing habits are changing, you can check out this report on viewing trends from Nielsen.
