The 2012-13 college football season got off to a good start for ABC over the weekend.
The season opening edition of ABC’s “Saturday Night Football,” pitting #8 Michigan against #2 Alabama, earned a 4.8 final rating and 7.918 million viewers on Saturday night — up 4% in ratings and 2% in viewership from Oregon/LSU last year (4.6, 7.751M), and up 78% and 84%, respectively, from LSU/UNC in 2010 (2.7, 4.302M).
The telecast ranks as the highest rated and most-viewed season-opening edition of “Saturday Night Football” since Notre Dame/Georgia Tech in 2006 (5.4, 8.611M).
Saturday’s game drew a 3.0 rating among adults 18-49 — up 11% from last year (2.7), and topping the week on broadcast television.
Also Saturday, regional college football action featuring Southern Miss/Nebraska in 66% of markets drew a 2.3 and 3.452 million viewers — up a tick in ratings and 1% in viewership from coverage featuring Minnesota/USC last year (2.2, 3.409M), but down 15% and 18%, respectively, from coverage featuring Connecticut/Michigan in 2010 (2.7, 4.224M).
Ratings/Viewership For “Saturday Night Football” Season Opener
Since 2006 debut
| Year | Date | Away | Home | Net | Rating | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Sat., 9/1/12 | Michigan | Alabama | ABC |
4.8
|
7,918
|
| 2011 | Sat., 9/3/11 | Oregon | LSU | ABC |
4.6
|
7,751
|
| 2010 | Sat., 9/4/10 | LSU | UNC | ABC |
2.7
|
4,302
|
| 2009 | Sat., 9/5/09 | Alabama | Va. Tech | ABC |
4.2
|
7,081
|
| 2008 | Sat., 8/30/08 | Alabama | Clemson | ABC |
3.6
|
5,599
|
| 2007 | Sat., 9/1/07 | Tennessee | California | ABC |
3.3
|
4,945
|
| 2006 | Sat., 9/2/06 | Notre Dame | Ga. Tech | ABC |
5.4
|
8,611
|
(Saturday’s numbers from ESPN, with additional information from Media Life Magazine)
