Though up from last year’s game, which aired opposite a rescheduled NFL game on NBC, the Florida State/Notre Dame Champs Sports Bowl could not match 2010 or 2009.
The 2011 Champs Sports Bowl, a comeback victory for unranked Florida State over unranked Notre Dame, drew a 3.3 U.S. rating and 5.228 million viewers on ESPN last Thursday night — up 57% in ratings and 61% in viewership from last year (WVU/NCSU: 2.1, 3.256M), but down 15% and 16%, respectively, from 2010 (WISC/MIA: 3.9, 6.217M).
The game was also down 27% and 26%, respectively, from 2009, the last time Florida State participated in the game (FSU/WISC: 4.5, 7.059M).
Keep in mind that part of last year’s Champs Sports Bowl aired opposite a Vikings/Eagles NFL game on NBC, which had been postponed from Sunday night. The NFL game drew 23.736 million viewers, no doubt helping contribute to last year’s low numbers.
Ratings/Viewership For Champs Sports Bowl
Past four seasons
|
Season
|
Date
|
Game
|
Net
|
Rating
|
Viewers (000)
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2011-12
|
Thu., 12/29/11 | FSU 18, ND 14 | ESPN |
3.3
|
5,228
|
|
2010-11
|
Tue., 12/28/10 | NCSU 23, WVU 7 | ESPN |
2.1
|
3,256
|
|
2009-10
|
Tue., 12/29/09 | WISC 20, MIA 14 | ESPN |
3.9
|
6,217
|
|
2008-09
|
Sat., 12/27/08 | FSU 42, WISC 13 | ESPN |
4.5
|
7,059
|
(This year’s numbers from Nielsen.com)
