Ratings for college football on ABC continue to be generally down from last season.
Saturday’s Oregon State/Boise State game on ABC drew a 3.4 final rating and 5.587 million viewers — down 15% in ratings and 13% in viewership from Iowa/Penn State last year (4.0, 6.387 mil), but up 26% and 38%, respectively, from Georgia/Arizona State in 2008 (2.7, 4.037 mil).
The game drew over two million fewer viewers than Alabama/Arkansas on CBS earlier in the day (5.2, 8.138 mil).
Earlier in the day, regional action featuring UCLA/Texas drew a 2.5 final rating and 3.787 million viewers — down 36% in ratings and 38% in viewership from last year (MIA/VT*: 3.9, 6.114 mil) and down 24% and 23%, respectively, from 2008 (ND/MSU*: 3.3, 4.940 mil).
Ratings have now declined double-digits for six of the seven college football games on ABC this season. Only the September 18 edition of Saturday Night Football (Texas/Texas Tech or Notre Dame/Michigan State) had an increase.
Five of the seven games have drawn less than a 3.0 final rating. By comparison, all seven comparable games last year drew at least a 3.0.
According to Sports Business Daily, ABC is averaging a 3.0 rating and 4.769 million viewers for college football coverage this season — down 25% and 26%, respectively, from last year.
Asterisk (*) indicates featured game of window.
