The 2010-11 college football season got off to a less-than-spectacular start on ABC.
ABC drew a 2.7 final rating and 4.302 million viewers for LSU/North Carolina last Saturday night, down 36% in ratings and 39% in viewership from Alabama/Virginia Tech last year (4.2, 7.081 mil), down 25% and 23%, respectively, from regional action featuring Alabama/Clemson in 2008 (3.6, 5.599 mil), and down 18% and 13%, respectively, from Tennessee/California in 2007 (3.3, 4.945 mil).
This marks the lowest rated, least-viewed season debut of Saturday Night Football since the series began in 2006.
Additionally, the telecast is tied as the lowest-rated edition of Saturday Night Football — season debut or otherwise — since regional action featuring Oregon/California in October 2006 (2.4).
Earlier in the day, regional action featuring Connecticut/Michigan drew a 2.7 and 4.224 million viewers, down 23% in ratings and 25% in viewership from coverage featuring Georgia/Oklahoma State last year (3.5, 5.609 mil), down 4% and up 3%, respectively, from ’08 (2.8, 4.110 mil), and up 13% and 20%, respectively, from ’07 (2.4, 3.523 mil).
Despite the declines, the two games on ABC were Saturday’s highest rated college football telecasts. Of course, neither game could compare to Monday’s Boise State/Virginia Tech game on ESPN (6.3).
(Ratings From Sports Business Daily)
