With Auburn and Alabama having won the last three BCS national championships, it should be no surprise that Birmingham has continued its streak as the top college football television market for games on ESPN.
Birmingham, AL, has been the top television market for college football on ESPN in eleven of the past twelve seasons, ESPN announced in a press release this week.
Last season, the market averaged a 5.9 rating for college football games — actually down 28% from 2010 (8.2), and down 18% from 2009 (7.2).
Tied for second last season was Columbus, OH, which averaged a 4.3 rating. Last season was the second straight Columbus ranked second, and the twelfth straight year the market finished in the top five. Still, like Birmingham, Columbus’ 2011 average was down 19% from 2010 (5.3), and down 7% from 2009 (4.6).
Oklahoma City also tied for second (4.3), marking the first time since 2009 that the market ranked among the top five.
Rounding out the top ten markets last season were Greenville, SC (4.1), New Orleans (3.4), Atlanta (3.4), Jacksonville (3.3), Tulsa (3.3), Las Vegas (3.2), and Knoxville, TN (3.0).
Five Highest Rated Markets For College Football on ESPN
Dating back to 2009
| # | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birmingham (5.9) | Birmingham (8.2) | Birmingham (7.2) |
| 2 | Columbus and Oklahoma City (4.3) | Columbus (5.3) | Knoxville (5.1) |
| 3 | Knoxville (4.1) | Columbus (4.6) | |
| 4 | Greenville (4.1) | New Orleans and Jacksonville (3.9) | Greenville (4.4) |
| 5 | New Orleans and Atlanta (3.4) | New Orleans and Oklahoma City (3.8) |
(Numbers from ESPN Media Zone, ESPN)
