Overnight ratings dropped by double-digits for the very first BCS bowl to ever air on cable television.
TCU’s victory over Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl drew an 11.7 overnight rating on ESPN Saturday afternoon, down 15% from last year (OSU/ORE: 13.8, ABC), and down 7% from 2008 (USC/PSU: 12.6, ABC).
The 11.7 overnight is the highest for any non-NFL program on any cable network dating back to 2001.
That said, this marks the lowest overnight for the Rose Bowl since 2003 (OK/WSU: 11.4, ABC).
To put the numbers in perspective, Saturday’s game drew a higher overnight than all but three Monday Night Football games on ESPN this season.
(ESPN)
