FOX continues to benefit from its “Big Noon Saturday” strategy, though it failed to win the timeslot last weekend.
Ohio State-Indiana averaged a 2.0 rating and 3.05 million viewers on FOX “Big Noon Saturday” last weekend, ranking second out of the three “Big Noon” windows this season. Army-Michigan had a 3.1 and 4.72 million the previous week; FAU-Ohio State had a 1.6 and 2.62 million in week one. There were no comparable windows last year or in 2017.
As noted in a separate article, the game ranked second in its timeslot behind Pittsburgh-Penn State on ABC (2.1, 3.20M). That marked a reversal from the previous two weeks — and from the overnights — which saw FOX win the Noon ET window.
Even so, the Buckeyes’ easy win still gave FOX a strong lead-in for its late afternoon game. Arizona State-Michigan State averaged a 1.7 and 2.71 million, up 143% in ratings and 152% in viewership from last year (Houston-Texas Tech: 0.7, 1.08M), and up 13% and 8% respectively from 2017 (Army-Ohio State: 1.5, 2.51M).
All three late afternoon games on FOX this season have increased at least two-thirds over last year. Head-to-head, the Sun Devils’ win edged ABC’s competing USC-BYU game (1.7, 2.67M).
The “Big Noon” success has yet to extend to primetime. FOX averaged a 1.7 and 2.74 million for Oklahoma-UCLA Saturday night, down a tick in ratings and 7% in viewership from last year (1.8, 2.95M) and down 41% and 44% respectively from 2017 (2.9, 4.91M). Keep in mind the comparable windows both last year and in 2017 pit USC against Texas.
In other action last Saturday, FS1 posted a season-high 0.6 and 1.17 million (+302%) for Iowa-Iowa State. The game, which included a lengthy weather delay, was the site of ESPN’s College Gameday.
FS1 also drew a 0.39 (-9%) and 606,000 (-32%) for NC State-West Virginia, with the primetime Northern Illinois-Nebraska game chipping in 477,000.
[Nielsen estimates via ShowBuzz Daily 9.17]
