The SEC on CBS is college football’s top television draw.
Through last Saturday, CBS is averaging a 4.0/9 rating and 6.3 million viewers for college football coverage, up 29% and 47%, respectively, from a 3.1/7 and 4.3 million through the same point last year.
Currently, CBS stands as the highest rated, most-viewed college football broadcaster, edging second-place ABC (3.9/9, 6.2 million).
Last week’s LSU/Alabama game drew a 4.3 final rating and 6.8 million viewers, up 13% in ratings from last year’s comparable Georgia/Florida game, and the 4th-most viewed college football telecast of the season on CBS.
LSU/Alabama was the highest rated, most-viewed college football game last week, marking the second-straight week that CBS has drawn college football’s largest audience.
CBS has aired 5 of the 15 most-viewed college football games of the season. By comparison, ABC has aired 7 of the most-viewed games — but keep in mind that ABC has also aired more than twice as many games as CBS, including several in primetime.
Ratings/viewership for college football on CBS during the ’09 season
| Date | Game | Net | Rating | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., 9/19/09 | Tennessee/Florida | CBS |
4.3
|
6,620,000
|
| Sat., 9/26/09 | Arkansas/Alabama | CBS |
2.4
|
3,655,000
|
| Sat., 10/3/09 | LSU/Georgia | CBS |
3.5
|
5,542,000
|
| Sat., 10/10/09 | Alabama/Mississippi | CBS |
3.1
|
4,904,000
|
| Florida/LSU | CBS |
6.1
|
10,496,000
|
|
| Sat., 10/17/09 | Arkansas/Florida | CBS |
4.3
|
6,844,000
|
| Sat., 10/24/09 | Tennessee/Alabama | CBS |
3.6
|
5,714,000
|
| Sat., 10/31/09 | Georgia/Florida | CBS |
4.4
|
6,932,000
|
| Sat., 11/7/09 | LSU/Alabama | CBS |
4.3
|
6,753,000
|
Source: Sports Business Daily
