ESPN2’s ManningCast rebounds with strong Week 2 ratings

The reports of the ManningCast’s death are greatly exaggerated.

ESPN2’s Monday Night Football alternative broadcast likely scared a lot of people at ESPN and Omaha Productions in Week 1 when it posted some of the lowest ratings in its four-year history . Given that MNF was a ratings hit on the other channels , it was fair to ask if the charm had finally worn off on Peyton and Eli Manning’s presentation. Or had a confluence of events simply downgraded the potential audience on this particular week?

It appears that the latter is correct as the ManningCast reportedly rebounded with solid ratings for the Atlanta Falcons’ comeback win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2.

Sports Business Journal’s Austin Karp reported Tuesday that the ManningCast garnered an audience of 1.32 million viewers. The full Monday Night Football viewership numbers have yet to be released.

That’s a huge bump from Week 1’s average of 872,000 viewers, which was the lowest the broadcast had seen since it’s debut episode.

1.34M is on the higher side of ManningCast ratings numbers and their best showing since last season’s Chiefs-Eagles game on Nov. 20 (1.92M).

With two weeks of data under our belts, we can make some clear assumptions about why Week 1’s numbers were so low. First, the DirecTV-Disney dispute was still in effect , which cut off ESPN2 access to the provider’s subscribers. That game was also simulcast on ABC as well as ESPN, which likely further diluted their potential audience (even DirecTV subscribers in markets with non-Disney-owned ABC stations could watch). And while that game featured Bill Belichick’s debut as a first-half guest, his appearance was riddled with technical glitches and lag .

Compare that to Week 2, which featured a more interesting game, no DirecTV issues , no ABC simulcast, and Bill Belichick harnessing everything viewers want out of him .

The ManningCast is taking a few weeks off and returns on Oct. 7 for the New Orleans Saints vs. Kansas City Chiefs, which suddenly feels like a very interesting matchup. We’d expect to see similar solid ratings for that one, especially since it also will not be an ABC simulcast.

[ Austin Karp ]

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