Iron Bowl ratings were the highest since the “Kick Six” four years ago.
Alabama-Auburn had a 7.6 rating and 13.7 million viewers on the SEC on CBS last Saturday, up 69% in ratings and 66% in viewership from last year (4.5, 8.2M), up 43% and 47% respectively from 2015 (5.3, 9.3M), and the highest rated and most-watched “Iron Bowl” since 2013 (8.2, 13.8M).
The Iron Bowl has now topped a 7.0 rating and 13 million viewers in three of the past five seasons.
The Tigers’ upset win, which peaked with a 10.4 and 19.0 million from 6:30-7 PM ET, ranks as the highest rated and most-watched college football game of the season. The previous highs were a 6.9 and 12.3 million for Alabama-Florida State on ABC in week one.
Saturday’s game continued a turnaround for the SEC on CBS. The network’s primary 3:30 PM ET window has now posted a double-digit increase in three straight weeks, after declining in each of the previous nine.
In other action last weekend, CBS drew 2.502 million for Missouri-Arkansas on Black Friday — up a fraction of a percent from last year (2.498M) and up 5% from 2015 (2.390M). Ratings were not immediately available.
Overall, four of the last five SEC on CBS telecasts have increased, after the first ten declined.
The 2017 college football ratings chart is available here.
Iron Bowl Ratings Chart (Click to Enlarge)
[Wknd. numbers from ShowBuzz Daily 11.28, 11.29, CBS Sports PR/Twitter 11.29]
