Sugar Bowl TV ratings - down double-digits
One of the good things about a BCS game is the nationwide TV exposure for a game on in prime time.
As such, I thought it interesting to see the ratings for yesterday's game came in at a 6.3 share, down 11% from the comparable 3rd BCS game last year (which last year was the Orange Bowl game btw Stanford and Va Tech, which got a 7.1).
https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2012/01/04/Media/Bowl-…
To compare it to last year's VACATED vs. Arkansas Sugar Bowl (which was the 4th BCS game on the schedule last year), that got a significantly higher 8.4 share.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls10/sugar/news/story?id=5991888
I'm not sure why there was such a big drop, but my guess is a) having the "New Year's Games" on January 2nd this year threw everyone's calendars off (I can't tell you how many casual Michigan fans I talked to over the holidays who didn't know when Sugar Bowl was, so I can imagine non-UM fans had no clue) and b) people outside of Michigan and Virginia weren't impressed by UM and VA Tech's seasons and weren't that excited for the game (as opposed to, say, last year's clash btw higher ranked OSU and Arkansas). But those are guesses. I'd be interested to hear other people's thoughts.
As an aside, this year's "New Year's Day" games on January 2nd also took ratings hits, with only the Gator Bowl (OSU-FL) getting higher rating (2.2 vs 1.7). The Outback Bowl was a 5.0, down from last year's 7.0, and Capital One was a 2.5, down from last year's 3.7
http://jacksonville.com/sports/college/florida-gators/2012-01-03/story/…
January 5th, 2012 at 3:43 AM ^
After firing up the google machine, it is revealed that he's from State College, PA and grew up loving PSU. His animosity toward Michigan in that article makes a little more sense now
January 4th, 2012 at 9:43 PM ^
This is completely due to the move of the BCS games to cable. I a good case study for is what happened to MNF when it moved from ABC to ESPN. While the NFL did their best to give it a second tier schedule which didn't help, even the highest rated MNF cable games don't approach the broadcast numbers. Being down 11% is about right since cable reaches about 15% fewer homes. They get lower viewership by moving sporting events to cable, but make more money in the end.
January 4th, 2012 at 10:41 PM ^
what about an 11 win MAC team or an 11 win Big East team. Virginia Tech had 11 wins and we beat them we weren't even the worst 11 win team this year.
January 4th, 2012 at 11:27 PM ^
January 4th, 2012 at 11:31 PM ^
A lame ass rematch!!! Screw Bama they had their shot and lost... Boycott this game and let's prove a point
January 5th, 2012 at 4:23 AM ^
Another factor that I haven't seen anyone mention is that CBS, ABC and NBC were all showing new shows, rather than repeats. Shows usually don't start back up this early (usually not until the second or third week of January) so past Sugar Bowls likely have not had that sort of competition. Tuesday cable ratings will probably be available around 8 or 9 EST (though due to New Years this week it might be more like afternoon or evening) which will indicate how big a factor cable news was.
January 5th, 2012 at 1:19 PM ^
Cable news ratings are available, and across the six available networks (Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, Headline News, CNBC and Fox Business News) ratings were up by about 2.5 million viewers (73%) vs. Monday night. The competition alone is enough to account for the drop vs. last year. Trying to pin this on the matchup (which I have already seen people elsewhere doing -- poor Boise State was robbed by Michigan) doesn't take the facts into consideration.
January 5th, 2012 at 7:25 AM ^
Edited: Nothing to see here, the entire point has already been made by someone else. Missed it in my laziness, sorry.
January 5th, 2012 at 9:22 AM ^
I think maybe more people were interested in the MSU-Wisconsin basketball game.
January 7th, 2012 at 9:00 AM ^
I'm a C-FB addict!
I watch a lot of games, 3 TVs and Internet, every Saturday. I do this for pleasure and monatorial purpose. I keep data bases on all 120 teams, with all pertinent stats & misc. info(weather, day of week & time of day, etc.)
I have 2 basic tenents: The Big 10 & ACC, are the two weakest conferences in the BCS. Their strength of schedule, are a joke. Wager high on any game out conference, taking the underdog with the points and generally take the over. These 2 conferences will try to run of scores on weaker opponents. The Big 10, loves "trying" to beat up on the Mac Conference, with dismal results, I may add. ACC always schedules the weakest opponents from the SEC & Big East.
The SEC is good but again over rated. Drop the worst team, from each BCS Conference & the Big 12, presents the most fear. But, on ESPN, a stooge for the BCS, it was big 10 & SEC all year. I get a good laugh, when they are blatantly promoting, as order or paid by the BCS.
I pay no heed to the hype on that major cable sports network. Their job, is to promote BCS teams & their players(i.e. Richardson & Ingram for the Heisman). The BCS & ESPN force the NCAA as to what games to schedule & when. They also influence every NCAA investigation and punishment. Even to the point of trying to cover-up scandels, i,e. Penn St(6mos); Ohio st. (7 mos), Auburn (over a year) and many others. It's always enjoyable when the predictors from ESPN, go out on a limb and pick a 30 point BCS team to win straight-up.
When was the last time "top-to-bottom", that a Big Ten or ACC team scheduled a previous years, ranked opponent, that was not in conference.
Having Mich-VaTech game in a BCS Bowl, was a slap in the face to college football. It was actually one game I took a pass on. Knowing, that it was a totally inferior choice. It's a wonder the ratings were as high as they were.
Watch the ratings for Monday nights game. Myself & my colleagues are taking a pass on that "joke of a game," also.
January 7th, 2012 at 9:39 AM ^
From the OP:
As an aside, this year's "New Year's Day" games on January 2nd also took ratings hits, with only the Gator Bowl (OSU-FL) getting higher rating (2.2 vs 1.7). The Outback Bowl was a 5.0, down from last year's 7.0, and Capital One was a 2.5, down from last year's 3.7.
So viewership fron last year is down even more (as a percentage) for the Outback and Capital One Bowls than the Sugar Bowl, and the reason for the Sugar Bowl drop is the matchup? I think those making that argument need to go back to the drawing board. The Ohio-Florida bowl game had such low ratings to start with it's not hard for it to get a bump. It looks like there is a significant drop in viewership across the board, though, so instead of the matchup, some of the other points people have already made must be in play (people using ESPN3, not having access to cable, the fact that these games are on the 2nd and 3rd instead of the 1st).
I've not seen ratings yet for the Cotton Bowl, but it will be interesting to see its ratings. It was on a Friday night on a free network (no cable fees) and had according to many a better matchup with higher ranked teams, so it has a lot going for it that should push it in a positive direction, so if it come out with a rating close to or lower than the Sugar Bowl, I don't think people can continue with the claim the matchup is the problem.