ESPN and ESPN2 saw steep declines for primetime college football games last Saturday night.
Last Saturday’s #16 Florida/Kentucky game earned a 1.5 U.S. rating and 2.139 million viewers on ESPN, down 38% in ratings and 44% in viewership from last year (SC/AUB: 2.4, 3.833M), and down 17% and 24%, respectively, from 2009 (ND/PUR: 1.8 2.815M).
Over on ESPN2, #12 South Carolina/Vanderbilt drew a 0.9 and 1.368 million, down 40% in ratings and 46% in viewership from last year (WVU/LSU: 1.5, 2.518M), and 36% and 41%, respectively, from 2009 (TTU/HOU: 1.4, 2.301M).
Later in the night, #23 USC/Arizona State drew a 1.4 and 2.080 million on ESPN, and #10 Oregon/Arizona drew a 0.7 and 1.013 million on ESPN2.
FSU/Clemson Tops Among Afternoon Games: As for last week’s afternoon games, #11 Florida State/#21 Clemson earned a 1.7 and 2.571 million viewers on ESPN, the highest rated, most-viewed game of the day on ESPN or ESPN2.
Meanwhile, on ESPN2, reverse mirror coverage of ABC’s 3:30 PM window drew a 0.5 and 676,000 on ESPN2.
At Noon ET, North Carolina/#25 Georgia Tech drew a 1.3 and 1.826 million on ESPN, down 24% in ratings and viewership from last year (NCST/GT: 1.7, 2.401M). On ESPN2, Eastern Michigan/Penn State drew a 0.5 and 592,000.
(This week’s numbers from The Voice of TV)
