For the first time in nearly two months, NBC had an increase in ratings for Notre Dame coverage — although viewership still trailed last year’s levels.
Notre Dame’s loss to Tulsa last Saturday earned a 1.6 final rating and 2.288 million viewers on NBC, up 14% in ratings but down 2% in viewership from the network’s sixth Notre Dame telecast last year (WSU/ND: 1.4, 2.339 mil), and even in ratings and down 2% in viewership from the sixth telecast in ’08 (SYR/ND: 1.6, 2.336 mil).
Keep in mind last year’s Washington State/Notre Dame telecast aired in primetime, and the 2008 Syracuse/Notre Dame game aired in late November.
This marks the first time since Michigan/Notre Dame in early September that NBC has had an increase in ratings for Notre Dame coverage. That said, this is the fourth straight Notre Dame telecast on NBC to have a decline in viewership.
This is the fourth time this season that NBC has failed to draw at least 2% of U.S. television households for Notre Dame coverage, the first time in three years that at least four of the network’s telecasts have dipped below 2.0.
Ratings/Viewership For College Football on NBC in 2010 Season
| Date | Time | Game | Net | Rating | vs. ’09 | Viewers (000) | vs. ’09 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., 9/4/10 | 3:30 PM | Purdue 12 | NBC |
2.2
|
69%
|
3,289
|
74%
|
| Notre Dame 23 | |||||||
| Sat., 9/11/10 | 3:30 PM | Michigan 28 | NBC |
4.5
|
67%
|
6,973
|
74%
|
| Notre Dame 24 | |||||||
| Sat., 9/25/10 | 3:30 PM | #16 Stanford 14 | NBC |
1.8
|
-38%
|
2,641
|
-41%
|
| Notre Dame 37 | |||||||
| Sat., 10/9/10 | 3:30 PM | Pittsburgh 17 | NBC |
1.3
|
-68%
|
1,844
|
-72%
|
| Notre Dame 23 | |||||||
| Sat., 10/16/10 | 2:30 PM | Western Mich. 20 | NBC |
1.3
|
-41%
|
1,863
|
-46%
|
| Notre Dame 44 | |||||||
| Sat., 10/30/10 | 2:30 PM | Tulsa 28 | NBC |
1.6
|
14%
|
2,288
|
-2%
|
| Notre Dame 27 |
(Rating from Sports Business Daily)
