ESPN’s Steelers-Giants 'Monday Night Football' Telecast Tackles 10.7 Million Viewers

By R. Thomas Umstead
last updated

Viewership down from last year’s 'MNF' Opener

(Image credit: ESPN)

ESPN’s Pittsburgh Steelers-New York Giants Monday Night Football telecast drew 10.7 million viewers, falling short of last year’s MNF opening game numbers, according to Nielsen.

Audience numbers for the game, won by the Steelers 26-16, were down from the 13.1 million viewers that tuned into the Sept. 10, 2019 New Orleans Saints-Houston Texans MNF opener, according to Nielsen. The Steelers-Giants game finished as the third most watched sports event on cable in 2020 -- behind ESPN’s Jan. 13 LSU-Clemson College Football Playoff National Championship Game, and its Jan. 1 Oregon-Wisconsin Rose Bowl Game telecast.

The game also fell short of Fox News’ Feb. 4 live telecast of the State of the Union address, which drew 11 million viewers, said Nielsen. 

The second game of ESPN’s MNF doubleheader telecast between the Tennessee Titans and the Denver Broncos drew 7.6 million viewers, according to Nielsen.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.