The ABC debate attracted 46.6 million more TV viewers than the Sept. 9 Monday Night Football game between the New York Jets and San Fransisco 49ers, according to ESPN. The game aired on ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes. ABC and ESPN are owned by the same company.
Nonetheless, the 20.5 million TV viewers watching the Monday night game was the second most-watched game in the franchise’s 19-year history. The most-watched game was the 2023 match between the Jets and the Buffalo Bills, which had 22.7 million viewers.
As with the debate, the viewership number does not include streaming.
