The new home of the Bowl Championship Series has gotten off to a slow start for college football coverage.
Through 29 telecasts, ESPN is averaging a 2.0 U.S. rating and 3.104 million viewers for college football coverage, according to Sports Business Daily — down 9% and 11%, respectively, from last year.
Meanwhile, ESPN2 is averaging a 0.9 and 1.492 million viewers through 15 games, down 10% and 9%, respectively.
Despite the overall declines, both networks had increases for Saturday night games last week.
ESPN drew a 2.4 U.S. rating and 3.813 million viewers for South Carolina/Auburn, up 33% in ratings and 36% in viewership from Notre Dame/Purdue in a similar timeslot last year (1.8, 2.815 mil), but down 31% in both from LSU/Auburn two years ago (3.5, 5.562 mil).
Meanwhile, ESPN2 drew a 1.5 and 2.518 million viewers for West Virginia/LSU, up a tick in ratings and 9% in viewership from Texas Tech/Houston in a similar timeslot last year (1.4, 2.301 mil) and up 15% and 28%, respectively, from Wake Forest/Florida State on a Saturday night two years ago (1.3, 1.971 mil).
Both games aired opposite Oregon State/Boise State on ABC (3.4, 5.587 mil).
