College Football Playoff Viewership Sees a Decline
Last weekend’s first round of the College Football Playoff averaged 9.9 million viewers on ABC, ESPN, TNT, TBS, and truTV, according to ESPN and Nielsen. This represents a 7% drop from last year’s viewership numbers.
A significant reason for this decline was the fact that the final game, James Madison versus Oregon, was broadcast on TNT, TBS, and truTV, rather than on ABC and ESPN. Additionally, the game faced competition from an NFL game in prime time, which likely drew away some potential viewers.
Comparing Viewership Numbers
The Chicago Bears’ 22-16 overtime victory over the Green Bay Packers on Fox averaged 21.3 million viewers, while Oregon’s 51-34 win over James Madison drew 4.4 million viewers. In comparison, last year’s Ohio State-Tennessee game on ABC/ESPN averaged 14.3 million viewers, and it did not have to compete with an NFL game.
The most-watched CFP game was Alabama’s 34-24 comeback victory over Oklahoma, which averaged 14.9 million viewers on a Friday night on ABC/ESPN. This was not only the highest-viewed CFP first-round game in the two years of the expanded 12-team field, but it was also the fifth-most watched game of the season. Notably, six of the top 20 most-viewed games this year involve Alabama.
Other Notable Games and Viewership
Last year’s CFP opener between Notre Dame and Indiana averaged 13.4 million viewers. Miami’s 10-7 win over Texas A&M averaged 14.8 million on ABC/ESPN on Saturday afternoon, more than doubling the 6.4 million viewers who tuned in for the SMU-Penn State game in the same time slot on TNT/TBS and truTV.
The Hurricanes’ victory was the sixth-most watched game of the season. Ole Miss’ 41-10 rout of Tulane averaged 6.2 million on TNT/TBS and truTV, down from the 8.6 million average from last year’s Texas-Clemson game in the same time slot and networks.
Impact of NFL Games on Viewership
The Saturday middle CFP game has faced competition from the NFL for the last two years. Philadelphia’s 29-18 win over Washington on Fox averaged 15.5 million viewers, the same audience that tuned in for last year’s game between Pittsburgh and Baltimore.
ESPN sublicenses CFP games to TNT/TBS and truTV. Besides two first-round games again next year, the Warner Bros. Discovery channels will have two quarterfinals and a semifinal game. Last year’s four quarterfinal matchups averaged 16.9 million on ESPN and ESPN2.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, the College Football Playoff viewership saw a decline this year, with the first round averaging 9.9 million viewers. The competition from NFL games and the broadcast of some games on lesser-known networks like TNT, TBS, and truTV were significant factors in this decline. However, some games, like Alabama’s comeback victory over Oklahoma, still managed to draw in large audiences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the average viewership for the first round of the College Football Playoff this year?
A: The average viewership for the first round of the College Football Playoff this year was 9.9 million viewers.
Q: What was the most-watched CFP game this year?
A: The most-watched CFP game this year was Alabama’s 34-24 comeback victory over Oklahoma, which averaged 14.9 million viewers.
Q: How did the NFL games affect the viewership of the College Football Playoff?
A: The NFL games had a significant impact on the viewership of the College Football Playoff, with some games drawing away potential viewers from the CFP games.
