The SEC lifted CBS to its highest rated college football season in over a decade.
CBS averaged a 4.4/10 rating and 7 million viewers for SEC telecasts in 2009, up 29% in ratings and 37% in viewership from last year (3.4, 5.1 mil), and up 26% and 31%, respectively, from 2007 (3.5, 5.4 mil).
This marks the highest average rating for college football on CBS since the network resumed airing games in ’96.
CBS finished as the highest rated, most-viewed college football broadcaster in 2009, topping ABC (3.9, 6.1 mil) for the first time since 1990.
The season was capped off by the SEC Championship Game on December 5, which drew an 11.1 rating and 18 million viewers.
Ratings/viewership for SEC on CBS during the 2009 season
| Date | Time | Game | Net | Rating | Viewers (000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., 9/19/09 | 3:30 PM | Tennessee/Florida | CBS |
4.3
|
6,620
|
| Sat., 9/26/09 | 3:30 PM | Arkansas/Alabama | CBS |
2.4
|
3,655
|
| Sat., 10/3/09 | 3:30 PM | LSU/Georgia | CBS |
3.5
|
5,542
|
| Sat., 10/10/09 | 3:30 PM | Alabama/Mississippi | CBS |
3.1
|
4,904
|
| 8 PM | Florida/LSU | CBS |
6.1
|
10,496
|
|
| Sat., 10/17/09 | 3:30 PM | Arkansas/Florida | CBS |
4.3
|
6,844
|
| Sat., 10/24/09 | 3:30 PM | Tennessee/Alabama | CBS |
3.6
|
5,714
|
| Sat., 10/31/09 | 3:30 PM | Georgia/Florida | CBS |
4.4
|
6,932
|
| Sat., 11/7/09 | 3:30 PM | LSU/Alabama | CBS |
4.3
|
6,753
|
| Sat., 11/14/09 | 12 PM | Tennessee/Mississippi | CBS |
2.2
|
3,069
|
| 3:30 PM | Florida/South Carolina | CBS |
4.0
|
6,347
|
|
| Sat., 11/21/09 | 3:30 PM | LSU/Mississippi | CBS |
2.9
|
4,448
|
| Fri., 11/27/09 | 2:30 PM | Auburn/Alabama | CBS |
4.9
|
8,124
|
| Sat., 11/28/09 | 3:30 PM | Florida St./Florida | CBS |
4.7
|
7,491
|
| Sat., 12/5/09 | 4 PM | Alabama/Florida | CBS |
11.1
|
17,969
|
* Ratings/viewership for Army/Navy in 2008 and 2009 and Notre Dame/Navy in ’08 are excluded.
