Interest in the Georgia/Florida rivalry game, at least as gauged by television ratings, was not as high as in previous years.
CBS drew a 3.3 final rating and 5.477 million viewers for last Saturday’s Georgia/Florida game, down 25% in ratings and 21% in viewership from the same matchup last year (FLA/GA: 4.4, 6.932 mil), but up 10% and 19%, respectively, from 2008 (GA/LSU: 3.0, 4.612 mi).
So far this season, the two Florida telecasts on CBS have both drawn a 3.3 rating and fewer than 5.5 million viewers.
To put that in perspective, each of the seven Florida telecasts on CBS last season drew at least a 4.0 rating and north of 6.0 million viewers.
Of course, last year’s Florida team featured QB Tim Tebow, and was a national championship contender. This year’s Florida team not only lacks Tebow’s starpower, but is also currently unranked.
Despite the declines, Georgia/Florida drew more viewers than ABC’s concurrent regional action (3.3, 5.154 mil), and trounced NBC’s Tulsa/Notre Dame game in both ratings and viewership (1.6, 2.288 mil).
(Rating from Sports Business Daily)
