Final ratings for the Rose Bowl rose from the overnight, but remained the lowest in the history of the event.
The 2012 Rose Bowl, won by #5 Oregon over #10 Wisconsin, earned a 10.2 U.S. rating and 17.558 million viewers on ESPN Monday afternoon — down 10% in ratings and 15% in viewership from last year (TCU/WISC: 11.3, 20.558M), and down 23% and 27%, respectively, from 2009 (OSU/ORE: 13.2, 24.025M, ABC).
The 10.2 rating is the lowest in the history of the Rose Bowl. The previous low was a 10.8 for the 1989 game. Notably, the 1989 game also aired on January 2.
This marks just the second time dating back to the 1985-86 season that the Rose Bowl has failed to attract at least 11% of U.S. television homes.
Despite the record low numbers, Monday’s game ranks as the third-most viewed non-NFL program in cable television history. Only last year’s Rose Bowl and BCS National Championship Game earned better numbers.
Ratings/Viewership For the Rose Bowl
Over the past decade
|
Season
|
Date
|
Game
|
Net
|
Rating
|
Viewers (000)
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2011-12
|
Mon., 1/2/12 | ORE 45, WISC 38 | ESPN |
10.2
|
17,558
|
|
2010-11
|
Sat., 1/1/11 | TCU 21, WISC 19 | ESPN |
11.3
|
20,558
|
|
2009-10
|
Fri., 1/1/10 | OSU 26, ORE 17 | ABC |
13.2
|
24,025
|
|
2008-09
|
Thu., 1/1/09 | USC 38, PSU 24 | ABC |
11.7
|
20,603
|
|
2007-08
|
Tue., 1/1/08 | USC 49, ILL 17 | ABC |
11.1
|
19,003
|
|
2006-07
|
Mon., 1/1/07 | USC 32, MICH 18 | ABC |
13.9
|
24,025
|
|
2005-06
|
Wed., 1/4/06 | TEX 41, USC 38* | ABC |
21.7
|
35,630
|
|
2004-05
|
Sat., 1/1/05 | TEX 38, MICH 37 | ABC |
12.4
|
20,458
|
|
2003-04
|
Thu., 1/1/04 | USC 28, MICH 14 | ABC |
14.3
|
23,871
|
|
2002-03
|
Wed., 1/1/03 | OK 34, WSU 14 | ABC |
11.3
|
18,298
|
|
2001-02
|
Thu., 1/3/02 | MIA 37, NEB 14* | ABC |
13.8
|
21,559
|
(10.2 U.S. rating based on 11.665 million households; numbers from espnmediazone3.com)
