So far this season, CBS is averaging the highest rating of any network carrying college football games, with last week’s Georgia/Auburn matchup scoring 5% of U.S. TV homes.
CBS earned a 5.0 final rating for BCS #2 Auburn’s win over Georgia last Saturday, up 22% from last year (FLA/SC: 4.1), but down 2% from 2008 (ALA/LSU: 5.1). Viewership for the game was not immediately available.
The 5.0 is tied as the third-highest college football rating of the season, behind only Alabama/Arkansas on CBS September 25 (5.2) and Boise State/Virginia Tech on ESPN Labor Day (6.3).
Georgia/Auburn topped regional college football action on ABC (4.0) and Utah/Notre Dame on NBC (1.5).
Earlier in the day, Mississippi/Tennessee drew a 1.8 final rating, down 18% from last year’s matchup between the same teams in the same Noon ET timeslot (TEN/MISS: 2.2).
Through last Saturday, CBS is averaging a 3.9 rating for college football coverage, up 3% from last year (3.8). According to CBS, the 3.9 is the highest average for college football on any network this year.
Notes: It was not immediately clear whether CBS’ 3.9 average was for SEC coverage alone, or also included its non-SEC Notre Dame/Navy telecast.
According to CBS, last year’s Florida/South Carolina game drew a 4.1 final rating. However, previous data had that game drawing a 4.0.
(CBS press release from Fang’s Bites).
