ESPN and ESPN2 each put up good numbers on the strength of SEC football last week.
South Carolina’s upset victory over Mississippi drew a 3.1 U.S. rating and 4.7 million viewers on ESPN last Thursday night, up 15% and 17%, respectively, from a 2.7 and 4 million for West Virginia/Colorado last year.
The 3.1 rating is the highest of the season for a Thursday night college football game on ESPN.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s Florida/Kentucky game, which saw Gator QB Tim Tebow leave in the 3rd quarter due to injury, drew a 2.2 U.S. rating and 3.6 million viewers on ESPN2 — up 69% and 85%, respectively, from a 1.3 and 2 million for last year’s comparable Wake Forest/Florida State game.
Florida/Kentucky ranks as the most-viewed program of the year on ESPN2, topping the Braves/Phillies Opening Night game in April (3.3 million).
Source: TV By the Numbers
