ESPN looks to have a good Saturday night with UGA-Ole Miss. Opposition is a bunch of half name games. NBC-Ohio St. vs. Michigan St., Fox-Oklahoma vs. WVU, ABC Texas vs. TCU. Big 12 also has Houston-Cincinnati on FS1 Saturday night. Unusual for them to have so many night games.

Week 11 SMW:
https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2023/11...l-roundup/

"Michigan-Penn State averaged a 5.0 rating and 9.16 million viewers on the latest edition of FOX “Big Noon Saturday,” marking the sixth-largest audience of the college football season. More games have topped the nine million mark this season (six) than the entirety of last (five). Zooming out further, more games have topped the seven million mark (16) than in any regular season over the past decade. (Keep in mind out-of-home viewing was not included in Nielsen estimates prior to 2020.)"

"Utah-Washington won a competitive midday window that also included the fourth and fifth-most watched games of the week. Miami-Florida State placed fourth with a 2.2 and 4.14 million on ABC, the largest audience for the rivalry since 2016 (5.5M). Ratings increased 5% and viewership 7% from Nebraska-Michigan last year (2.1, 3.88M).

Tennessee-Missouri ranked fifth with a 2.0 and 3.62 million on the SEC on CBS, down 60% in ratings and 58% in viewership from Alabama-Mississippi last year (4.8, 8.71M).

CBS was unable to pick the higher-profile Mississippi-Georgia game as it had already made the maximum number of Bulldogs selections. That game, which aired on ESPN in primetime, ranked third for the week with a 2.5 and 4.83 million — up 42% in ratings and 45% in viewership from last year (Georgia-Mississippi State: 1.8, 3.34M) and the third-largest cable audience this season."

Without Georgia or Alabama, CBS finished 3rd in the mid afternoon time slot, rare for an SEC game. Mississippi-Georgia didn't even hit 5 million. So much for Gameday going to the Game of the Week this week. Michigan-Penn State had more viewers than both SEC games combined.

(11-09-2023 07:08 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  UCF @ Cincy drew a whopping 264k viewers. Beaten by some MAC games.

Sheesh.

I watched that one. Good game 28-26
Really surprised more didn’t tune in

(11-09-2023 07:08 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  UCF @ Cincy drew a whopping 264k viewers. Beaten by some MAC games.

Sheesh.

Maybe the Big 12 scheduling was on to something by not protecting the east coast triad every year…

Another bad day for NBC midday Big 10. 1.17 for Minnesota-Purdue, #14 for the week behind 4 ESPN games including UCF's 45-3 blowout win over Oklahoma St. at the same time.
Fortunately for NBC, they also had the Ohio St.-Michigan St. game prime time.

SMW Week 12: https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2023/11...tn-the-cw/

"For just the second time since week zero — but the second time in four weeks — no college football game managed to reach six million viewers. Georgia-Tennessee was the top game of week twelve with a 3.1 rating and 5.73 million viewers on CBS, up 24% in ratings and 28% in viewership from Georgia-Kentucky a year ago (2.5, 4.48M).

The Bulldogs’ win, which peaked with 5.73 million, was the most-watched week twelve edition of the SEC on CBS in four years (2019 Georgia-Auburn: 6.77M). Keep in mind week twelve is typically when SEC teams play “cupcake” opponents ahead of their rivalry games."

That last line isn't mine, it's SMW's word for word. Georgia-Tennessee is the most watched week twelve edition of the SEC on CBS since 2019. Also worth noting in 2019 is that the season was 14 weeks so week 13 was cupcake week. I will give credit to the SEC, Georgia-Tennessee on paper was supposed to be a good matchup and in 2022 it had 13.06 million viewers.

"Placing second for the week, Michigan-Maryland averaged a 3.0 (+23%) and 5.43 million (+25%) on FOX “Big Noon Saturday,” placing a middle-of-the-road sixth out of the 12 “Big Noon” windows this season. The Wolverines’ win dominated the Noon window, which FOX has won in eight of 12 weeks this season."

In the stats I posted on page one of this thread, CBS has also won the mid afternoon time slot 8 of 12 weeks. The prime time slot has been the most competitive with ABC and NBC each winning four times, ESPN three, and CBS one.

"Shifting to the afternoon, Louisville-Miami ranked fourth at a 1.7 and 2.89 million and USC-UCLA fifth at a 1.5 and 2.65 million — both down sharply from last year’s equivalent afternoon windows, both of which featured Big Ten matchups (Illinois-Michigan: 3.05, 5.47M; Ohio State-Maryland: 3.45, 6.60M)"

Does ABC miss the Big Ten yet???

"In a fairly uneventful week for the big networks, Big Ten Network came away with a viewership record for Ohio State-Minnesota — the most-watched program in network history with a 1.0 and 2.02 million. (Keep in mind BTN has only been Nielsen-rated for four years). "

"The CW also hit a viewership record, scoring a 0.7 and 1.33 million for South Alabama-Florida State — the most-watched game in the network’s inaugural season of college football.

Rounding out the week twelve slate, NBC drew a 0.9 and 1.48 million for Notre Dame’s home finale against Wake Forest — up from their finale home game last year against Boston College (0.8, 1.27M)."

Not surprising CW gets its highest viewership when Florida State is on although it was in spite of the fact that they were playing an FCS opponent. Maybe the ACC should let the CW have higher picks next year, especially if they won't be getting as many ABC games when the SEC starts getting ABC games.

(11-21-2023 04:45 PM)schmolik Wrote:  SMW Week 12: https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2023/11...tn-the-cw/

"The CW also hit a viewership record, scoring a 0.7 and 1.33 million for South Alabama-Florida State — the most-watched game in the network’s inaugural season of college football.”

I know this is from the article and not you, but South Alabama didn’t play Florida State; it was FCS North Alabama instead.

(11-21-2023 07:30 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  

(11-21-2023 04:45 PM)schmolik Wrote:  SMW Week 12: https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2023/11...tn-the-cw/

"The CW also hit a viewership record, scoring a 0.7 and 1.33 million for South Alabama-Florida State — the most-watched game in the network’s inaugural season of college football.”

I know this is from the article and not you, but South Alabama didn’t play Florida State; it was FCS North Alabama instead.

Didn't even notice.

Anyone here not think Ohio State-Michigan won't be #1 after this week? Deion who?

Previous Ohio State-Michigan viewership courtesy of Sports Media Watch:



2023 Prediction with 2022 Viewership as well as previous highs:

https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2023/11...tart-time/

"CFB: #3 Ohio State-#2 Michigan (Noon Sat FOX). Prediction: 20.02M.

Most-watched Ohio State-Michigan games dating back to 1991
2006: #2 Michigan 39, #1 Ohio State 42: 21.04M, ABC
2022: #3 Michigan 45, #2 Ohio State 23: 17.14M, FOX
2016: #3 Michigan 27, #2 Ohio State 30: 16.84M, ABC
2021: #2 Ohio State 27, #5 Michigan 42: 16.47M, FOX
1995: #18 Michigan 31, #2 Ohio State 23: 14.27M, ABC (regional window)"

I would have really hated to not be able to have watched Ohio State-Michigan in 1995.

Can Ohio State-Michigan this year break the record? We'll have to see...

Did ABC miss the Big Ten this year? I would say yes.

First, here's my 2022 ratings thread: https://csnbbs.com/thread-954743.html

Comparing games of 5 million or more, 2022 vs. 2023 (not including Rivalry Week this year, not including conference championship games either season).

2022 had 22 games, 2023 so far has 27 with OSU/UM a sure bet.

In 2022, ABC had 9 games of 5 million or more, the most of any network (CBS 8, FOX 4, ESPN 1)

In 2023, ABC has 7 games of 5 million or more. CBS currently has 8 games of 5 million or more, FOX has 7 games of 5 million or more, ESPN has 3, NBC 2. FOX will certainly have OSU/UM, the Iron Bowl likely will draw 5 million or more. I'm not sure any ABC game gets 5 million or more this weekend. I think ABC will finish 3rd this season and if they don't get any more they will have 7 out of 28 or more vs. 9 out of 22 which % wise is way less.

In terms of time slots...

ABC in 2022 won the noon ET, mid afternoon slot, or prime time/SNF slot on Saturday 17 times out of a possible 39 time slots available. CBS won 9, FOX won 8, ESPN 5. ABC dominated the SNF slot, winning 8 of 13 weeks and was respectable at noon, winning 4 times vs. FOX's Big Nooner and 4 times in the mid afternoon slot vs. mostly SEC on CBS (one week was Week 2 when CBS didn't air an SEC game).

2023? ABC has won 10 times out of 36 possibilities. It's tied for the lead with CBS for the season but is nowhere near as dominating as they were in 2022. CBS in most weeks only airs a single game and has won their time slot as many times when ABC usually airs three games a week? That's highway robbery for CBS, especially with the bargain amount they paid for the SEC on CBS contract. FOX has won the time slot 9 times. NBC has now won 4 times, ESPN 3. Last year NBC didn't win their time slot one time all season. NBC also didn't have one game of 5 million viewers or more in 2022. The SNF slot ABC dominated in 2022 is now competitive with ABC winning 4 times, NBC 4 times, ESPN 3 times, and CBS 1 time. ABC did win 3 times at noon and 3 times during the mid afternoon, about on par with 2022.

Is the Big Ten the difference?

ABC won the prime time slot four times with a Big Ten hosted game in 2022 (Notre Dame-Ohio State, Wisconsin-Ohio State, Minnesota-Penn State, and Michigan State-Michigan). Two of those games (Ohio State-Notre Dame and Ohio State-Wisconsin) wound up being time slot wins for NBC in 2023. A Penn State game (vs. West Virginia) also won a time slot for NBC this year as well. The only NBC win that didn't involve a Big 10 team was USC-Notre Dame.

Also, CBS won two extra time slots this year than they did last year. Two of their 10 wins this year? Ohio State-Indiana and Ohio State-Rutgers, both Big Ten games. Coincidence they won two more times than last year? So far they've won as many times with the SEC than they did all last year (with the Iron Bowl this year not accounted for).

Now it's not all roses for the Big Ten.

Counting each team separately as an appearance so a conference game counts as two appearances, In 2022, the Big Ten had 13 appearances in games of 5 million or more. In 2023, they've had 12 appearances. Once OSU/UM is added, it will be 14 which is more than in the 2022 season but this year there will be more games of 5 million or more and we will only gain one appearance.

In 2022, Big 10 teams appeared 30 times in games that won their time slots (78 times possible), more than any other conference, one more than the SEC (29). In 2023, the Big 10 is currently at 17 with the SEC at 22. Both the Big 10 and SEC are down of course because of the Pac 12. Last year, they only appeared 2 times in games that won their time slots and more pathetically they were Georgia-Oregon and Notre Dame-USC, both non conference games! This year? 13 appearances including 5 Pac 12 conference games (Colorado-Oregon, USC-Colorado, Oregon-Washington, Utah-Washington, Washington-Oregon State).

Yes ABC lost ratings this year because of the Big 10. The good news is they will obviously gain the SEC from CBS come 2024. I expect come next year I will talk about ABC being the big winner and CBS being the big loser although I will expect some time slot wins and 5 million games for CBS courtesy of the Big Ten. We probably will never see a 5 million or more regular season game on ESPN again as Disney will have no reason to air games there anymore, all SEC games that can draw that audience can air on ABC.

In 2022, the Big Ten won the "time slot" battle. I expect the SEC to win in 2023. Now in 2024 the calculus will change. The SEC was limited in most weeks to just one OTA game on CBS each week. ESPN games can draw good ratings but the advantage has gone to the Big Ten. I expect many more SEC games on ABC than just one a week and that can change the number of 5 million or more games for the SEC, especially if ABC layers them back to back 3:30pm and SNF. The Big Ten should have three games on OTA each week but unless the Big Ten can get FOX, CBS, and NBC to cross promote each other it won't be the same effect.

I wonder how many people will be watching the ACC Championship between Florida State and Louisville. You have to think there will be a lot of Texas and Alabama fans tuning in that might not have tuned in otherwise. That’s what expanding the playoff gave us - excitement for a lot of these games that might not be there otherwise. Hopefully the 12-team playoff builds on this even more.

I don't know if I should be posting conference championship numbers but here goes...

https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2023/12...iewership/

"Saturday’s Alabama-Georgia SEC Championship Game, the final edition of the “SEC on CBS,” averaged an 8.9 rating and 17.52 million viewers — marking the largest audience for any conference title game since the 2018 Alabama-Georgia SEC Championship. This year’s audience trails only that game and 2009 as the highest for any conference title game since at least 2000. (Keep in mind out-of-home viewing was not tracked in Nielsen final nationals until 2020.)

Alabama’s win, which peaked with 22.35 million viewers, increased 58% in ratings and 61% in viewership from Georgia-LSU last year (5.6, 10.89M) and also increased 9% and 12% respectively from the previous Alabama-Georgia title game two years ago (8.2, 15.66M).

For the season, the SEC title game trails only Ohio State-Michigan on FOX the prior week (9.0, 19.07M) as the highest rated and most-watched game on any network."

Yes Alabama draws but we all knew that.

The interesting thing I've found is that the Alabama-Georgia combination drew. The 2023 Bama/Ga game had more viewers than any game since the 2018 game which also featured ... Alabama and Georgia. Alabama/Georgia in 2021 had over 15 million viewers, replace Alabama with LSU and it dropped to 10.89 million.

This should be important to the SEC scheduling office. Fans want to see Alabama vs. Georgia. We don't get to see it often and will tune in when it happens. Hopefully after divisional play is over we'll see the two play way more often than we used to. You can say that if they play more often then fans will get sick of seeing them. Michigan and Ohio State play every year and fans weren't sick of seeing them last year or the year before were they?

Will the possibility of Ohio State and Michigan meeting in the Big Ten Championship game affect the regular season viewership? It probably will (and everything will depend on records, if either or both lose a game before Rivalry Week ratings will definitely be lower no matter what). But I feel an Ohio State-Michigan Big Ten Championship Game will have more viewers than a Michigan-Iowa or Michigan-Purdue matchup and will easily make up for it.

"The Florida State-Louisville ACC Championship was the least-watched of the “Power 5” title games with a 3.8 and 7.03 million, though that was still double Clemson-North Carolina last year (1.9, 3.47M) and the largest audience for the game since Clemson-Notre Dame in 2020 (10.09M)."

It was a good year for Power 5 championships, all 5 drew at least 7 million. The 7 million by the ACC is impressive to me going head to head with the Big 10 (10 million). The Big 12 and Pac 12 didn't have the same competition. As for the G5's, none got more than 2 million.

Next year the SEC moves to ABC and we can ask if it is worth moving them to prime time. I'm sure if ABC gets 17.52 million viewers again they'd rather 17.52 million in prime time than in mid afternoon. Has the SEC Championship been in the mid afternoon because the SEC wanted it there or because CBS wanted it there? I'm sure if the SEC wants to move to prime time the Big 10 will move. Keep in mind next year CBS will air the Big 10 Championship and not FOX.

Most popular conference championship games.



Yeah I know that other conference rules and that school is the top.

#1? Some guy named Tim Tebow? Perhaps you've heard of him?

Ton of Alabama/Georgia games, throw out Tebow and the top four would have been Bama vs. UGa. Not a coincidence. Again, why don't they play more?

Not sure how Auburn/Missouri made it on this list. I would think that would be a nightmare viewership wise on both ends. Then again, it was the week after Kick Six.

Joe Burrow also made the list, not a surprise.

As for the one Big Ten game, note it was Ohio State vs. Michigan State, a matchup that was only possible under the old Legends vs. Leaders format. Since we went to East vs. West format we haven't gotten as high since. Coincidence? For the first three years, we theoretically could have had Ohio State vs. Michigan or even Penn State vs. Michigan in the championship but it never happened (Ohio State and Penn State were both in the Leaders so a matchup with them wasn't possible). The divisional format was good for the Big Ten that the Big Three are all guaranteed to meet in the regular season but bad in the championship game because only one could make it and we were bound to get a Big Ten Worst team to stink it up. That other conference could count on that elephant team and either Georgia or Florida to make it to the championship game but those schools rarely played in the regular season.

I'm actually curious what ESPN decides to do with the ACC and Big 12 next year. The ACC going up against the B1G each year has been a detriment to their TV ratings. With the PAC 12 no longer existing in its current form, it seems that Friday window could be taken over by the ACC. Or the Big 12 could take the Friday window and the ACC gets bumped to the early Saturday window.

Excellent summary from Sports Media Watch...

https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2023/12...-espn-nbc/





NBC definitely got the shaft when it came to the Big Ten. CBS had half as many games and a way higher average. FOX's "Big Nooners" include a few non Big 10 games including a few Deion games.

FS1 is supposedly in more homes than ESPN and yet they're lower than BTN now? That's pathetic.

With more advertising and better games, the CW could be promising for the ACC.

For ABC to be right with Fox this year in what was a very dangerous year for ABC given no Big Ten and no SEC yet- that's amazing.

Mississippi University for Women? Men's Basketball Team! You can't make this crap up!

https://owlsathletics.com/sports/mens-ba...urrows/156

(12-07-2023 12:17 PM)schmolik Wrote:  Mississippi University for Women? Men's Basketball Team! You can't make this crap up!

https://owlsathletics.com/sports/mens-ba...urrows/156

The school went co-ed in the 1980's. Already a Univ of Mississippi, so they kept their name. They did try to change the name 15 years ago, but the State wouldn't let them.


Their original name is educational: Mississippi Industrial Institute and College for the Education of White Girls

(12-06-2023 07:53 AM)Jeff Smithers Wrote:  I'm actually curious what ESPN decides to do with the ACC and Big 12 next year. The ACC going up against the B1G each year has been a detriment to their TV ratings. With the PAC 12 no longer existing in its current form, it seems that Friday window could be taken over by the ACC. Or the Big 12 could take the Friday window and the ACC gets bumped to the early Saturday window.

Well since ESPN now has the SEC, they probably move one of the two to Friday night and still use the AAC for the 3rd ABC slot. MAC and Sun Belt will continue to be ESPN opposite an ABC game.

(12-07-2023 12:50 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(12-06-2023 07:53 AM)Jeff Smithers Wrote:  I'm actually curious what ESPN decides to do with the ACC and Big 12 next year. The ACC going up against the B1G each year has been a detriment to their TV ratings. With the PAC 12 no longer existing in its current form, it seems that Friday window could be taken over by the ACC. Or the Big 12 could take the Friday window and the ACC gets bumped to the early Saturday window.

Well since ESPN now has the SEC, they probably move one of the two to Friday night and still use the AAC for the 3rd ABC slot. MAC and Sun Belt will continue to be ESPN opposite an ABC game.

Yeah I'd guess it'd be:
Fri Big 12
Sat AAC, SEC, ACC in that order

I think ESPN would rather have Big 12 by itself instead of ACC.