A Big Ten doubleheader generated solid increases in overnight ratings on ABC.
The Ohio State/Penn State Saturday Night Football game drew a 3.1 overnight rating on ABC, up 19% from the same match-up last year (2.6) but down 48% from Notre Dame/Oklahoma in 2012 (5.9). The game likely benefited from a weaker showing for the World Series (7.1), which was down 18% from last year’s comparable game.
Head-to-head, the Buckeyes’ double-overtime win trailed Mississippi/LSU on ESPN, but only slightly (3.3 to 3.1). For the week, it was the third-highest rated game in the metered markets — behind Mississippi/LSU and Mississippi State/Kentucky on CBS.
Earlier in the day, Michigan/Michigan State drew a 2.5 overnight — up 25% from regional action last year (2.0) but down a tick from 2012 (2.6).
(Sat. overnights from Sports Business Daily)
