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College football

BCS Title Game Ratings Could Break Records

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

ABC's highly anticipated Southern California-Texas title game tonight, airing in the Rose Bowl, is expected to draw a massive audience, potentially breaking the BCS ratings record of 17.8% of U.S. TV households set in the 2001 Orange Bowl. With ABC deploying 30 cameras and offering live shots of U.S. troops in Iraq, the network is banking on a high-stakes matchup to drive viewership. Even without the addition of gimmicks, the game is anticipated to perform well, as the Rose Bowl has consistently had higher TV ratings than other BCS bowls.

Key Takeaways:

  • ABC's Southern California-Texas title game has the potential to break the BCS ratings record, set in the 2001 Orange Bowl with 17.8% of U.S. TV households.
  • The Rose Bowl, where the game is being held, has consistently had higher TV ratings than other BCS bowls since the BCS' 1999 debut.
  • ABC plans to deploy 30 cameras and offer live shots of U.S. troops in Iraq, as well as a taped feature with actors Will Ferrell and Matthew McConaughey.
  • The network has also announced that its Rose Bowl footage will be available for downloading on iPods.
  • ABC's contract to cover the British Open, a separate deal from PGA Tour TV deals, runs through 2009.
  • The network's recent pickup of the second half of the NASCAR season in 2007 has left it with fewer Sunday afternoon windows open for showing golf.
  • ABC analyst Paul Azinger stated that the network has dropped out of talks for PGA Tour TV deals starting in 2007.
  • ABC/ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys had no comment on the matter.

Statistics:

  • 17.8%: The BCS ratings record set in the 2001 Orange Bowl.
  • 9.8%: Fox's average game rating in NFL national ratings.
  • 9.8%: CBS's average game rating in NFL national ratings.
  • 147.5 million: The number of viewers who have watched CBS's NFL action for at least six minutes this season.
  • 143.1 million: The number of viewers who have watched Fox's NFL action for at least six minutes this season.

Sources:

  • Michael Hiestand, "For all the kvetching about the Bowl Championship Series, its Southern California-Texas title game tonight on ABC could produce a bigger TV rating than anything else in the past year in TV sports -- except for only a few nights of the almighty NFL's playoffs"
  • Golfworld.com, "ABC has dropped out of talks for PGA Tour TV deals starting in 2007"
  • ABC/ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz, "it wasn't our camera"
  • ABC/ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys, no comment on ABC's dropped out of talks for PGA Tour TV deals
  • Lynn Swann's website, formal announcement of candidacy for governor of Pennsylvania

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