Ratings hit a three-year high for the Heisman Trophy Presentation.
Last Saturday’s Heisman Trophy Presentation earned a 1.8 rating and 2.93 million viewers on ESPN, up 38% in ratings and 35% in viewership from last year (1.3, 2.18M) and up 13% and 11% respectively from 2016 (1.6, 2.64M).
The telecast, which saw Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray defeat Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa, ranks as as the highest rated and most-watched Heisman Presentation since 2015 (1.9, 3.06M).
This year snapped a streak of five straight declines for the Heisman. Prior to this year, ratings and viewership had not increased for the event since Johnny Manziel‘s win in 2012.
Though improved, this year’s numbers remained on the low end historically. Saturday’s telecast was the third-lowest rated Heisman since 2001 (1.5) and the third-least watched since 2003 (2.89M).
The Heisman ranks third among sports awards shows over the past year, trailing the ESPY Awards on ABC (3.94M) and the NFL Honors on NBC (3.46M).
Head-to-head, it comfortably topped the MLS Cup on FOX and UniMas , which combined for 1.76 million.
As for college football’s other awards show, Thursday’s College Football Awards scored 636,000 viewers on ESPN — up 7% from last year (597K) but down 1% from 2016 (643K).
[Numbers from ESPN, Nielsen via ShowBuzz Daily 12.11]
