Ratings for the Bowl Championship Series increased from last year’s record low.
The five BCS bowls averaged a 10.2 rating on FOX and ABC, up 7% from a 9.2 last year. Ratings increased for four of the five BCS telecasts. The Fiesta Bowl garnered a 35% increase, while the Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl and BCS National Championship Game saw increases of 5%, 11% and 9%, respectively.
FOX in particular averaged a 9.9 rating for its four BCS telecasts, up 10% from a 9.0 for the same four games last year.
The increase in ratings is made even more impressive when one considers that the Orange Bowl drew a record low 5.4 rating, down 23% from the previous record low. Excluding the Orange Bowl, the BCS averaged an 11.4 rating.
While the 10.2 average for the BCS is higher than last year, it is also the second lowest average ever. Since hitting a peak average of 14.0 in 2006, ratings for the BCS have dropped 27%.
Average ratings for the BCS since 1999.
