ABC was the big winner during the college football season.
During the 2008 regular season, ABC averaged a 4.0 rating and 6.3 million viewers for 33 college football telecasts, up 3% and 7% respectively from a 3.9 and 5.9 million for 32 games in ’07. Saturday Night Football in particular averaged a 4.9 and 8 million for thirteen telecasts, up 19% from a 4.1 and 6.4 million for twelve games last year. ABC’s highest rating was a 7.5 for the November 1 tilt between Texas and Texas Tech.
CBS was the closest competitor to ABC. For 18 games, CBS averaged a 3.3 rating and 5.1 million viewers, down 6% and 5% from a 3.5 with 5.4 million last year. The decline in ratings comes despite the fact that CBS aired the highest rated game by far, the SEC Championship Game between Florida and Alabama, which drew a 9.3 rating.
On NBC, Notre Dame football averaged a 2.2 rating and 3.2 million viewers for six games, up 22% and 21% from a 1.9 with 2.6 million for seven games in ’07. NBC saw the biggest increase in ratings of any of the college football rightsholders.
The 2.2 average rating for Notre Dame football on NBC is the second-lowest since at least 1991, ahead of only last year’s 1.9. The highest rated game on NBC was an early-season matchup between Michigan and Notre Dame, which drew a 3.5 rating.
Ratings/viewership data from Sports Business Daily.
