NCAA Week 1: ABC Hits Six-Year High For Bama Blowout

Posted by | 09/05/2012 at 8:38 pm

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)

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