After disappointing ratings for its first two BCS bowl games, FOX finally got a strong audience for Monday’s Fiesta Bowl.
Texas’ win over Ohio State drew a 10.4/21 final rating and 17.1 million viewers on FOX Monday, up 35% and 40% from a 7.7 with 12.2 million for last year’s Fiesta Bowl between West Virginia and Oklahoma. There was no BCS bowl on the comparable date last year.
Ratings peaked at a 12.2/18 from 9:30-9:45 PM.
The 10.4 rating is the third-highest for a BCS bowl on FOX, behind the last two National Championship games. Additionally, the game finishes as the highest rated Fiesta Bowl since the 2006 game between Ohio State and Notre Dame drew a 12.9.
Fiesta Bowl ratings since 1998-99.
*: national championship game
10.4: Ohio St./Texas (Mon., 1/5/09, 8 PM FOX)
7.7: West Virginia/Oklahoma (Wed., 1/2/08, 8 PM FOX)
8.4: Boise St./Oklahoma (Mon., 1/1/07, 8:30 PM FOX)
12.9: Ohio St./Notre Dame (Mon., 1/2/06, 5 PM ABC)
7.4: Utah/Pittsburgh (Sat., 1/1/05 ABC)
8.5: Ohio St./Kansas St. (Fri., 1/2/04 ABC)
17.2: Ohio St./Miami (Fri., 1/3/03, 8 PM ABC)
10.7: Oregon/Colorado (Tue., 1/1/02 ABC)
10.7: Oregon St./Notre Dame (Mon., 1/1/01 ABC)
9.6: Nebraska/Tennessee (Sun., 1/2/00 ABC)
17.2: Florida St./Tennessee (Mon., 1/4/99 ABC)
