Ratings up 21 percent for preseason opener on 'Monday Night' By AP Breaking News John Madden's debut on "Monday Night Football" drew higher overnight TV ratings than either of Dennis Miller's Hall of Fame NFL exhibition telecasts. ABC Sports' broadcast of the New York Giants' 34-17 victory over the expansion Houston Texans drew an 8.6 overnight rating. That's 21 percent better than the 2001 Hall of Fame game's 7.1 overnight rating, and 7.5 percent better than 2000's 8.0. Madden jumped to ABC from Fox in February with a four-year, $20 million deal to pair with play-by-play announcer Al Michaels. "Monday Night Football" dumped Miller and analyst Dan Fouts after two years in which ratings fell more than 15 percent total. The show's viewership numbers have declined for seven straight years. The rating is the percentage of all homes with TVs, whether or not they are in use. Overnight ratings measure the 53 largest TV markets in the United States, covering about 65 percent of the country. The highest overnight Monday came in Houston, 25.3. The rating in New York was 7.4.

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