Ratings are up double-digits for college football on ABC.
Through three weeks (5 games), ABC is averaging a 4.1 rating and 6.6 million viewers for college football coverage, up 14% in ratings and viewership from a 3.6 and 5.8 million through the same point last year.
Ratings are up despite declines for Saturday Night Football. In particular, last week’s Texas Tech/Texas tilt drew a 4.1/8 final rating and 6.7 million viewers, down 41% and 44%, respectively, from last year’s comparable Ohio State/USC tilt (7.0/13, 11.9 million).
For the season (2 games), Saturday Night Football is averaging 6.9 million viewers, down 22% from 8.7 million through the same point last year.
The double-digit declines in prime time have been countered by double-digit increases during the afternoon. Regional action last Saturday afternoon drew a 3.1 final rating, up 29% from a 2.4 last year. ABC’s three afternoon college football telecasts have each been up at least 25% — including a 79% jump for Notre Dame/Michigan earlier this month.
