TV ratings for the College Football Playoff semifinals were up big compared to the previous two years.
Ratings change compared to previous years:
1) 2018 vs. 2017: ↑ 26%
2) 2018 vs. 2016: ↑ 42%
The big change. Moving the games from New Year’s Eve to New Year’s Day.
The peak viewing time was between 9:00–9:15 PM EST.
Below are the 5 most-watched cable telecast of all time:
1) 2014 CFB National Championship (Oregon/Ohio State): 33.4m
2) 2014 CFB Semifinal (Ohio State/Alabama): 28.3m
3) 2014 CFB Semifinal (Florida State/Oregon): 28.2m
4) 2010 CFB National Championship (Oregon/Auburn): 27.3m
5) 2017 CFB Semifinal (Georgia/Oklahoma): 26.8m
College football has fared better than the NFL, but ratings declined during the regular season.
% change between 2016 and 2017:
1) Fox: ↑ 23%
2) FS1: ↑ 4%
3) NBC: ↓ 3%
4) ESPN: ↓ 6%
5) CBS: ↓ 10%
6) ABC: ↓ 18%
Below are the 5 most-watched college football games during the regular season:
1) Alabama/Auburn (CBS): 13.7m
2) Georgia/Auburn (CBS): 13.5m
3) Ohio State/Wisconsin (Fox): 12.9m
4) Florida State/Alabama (ABC): 12.4m
5) Ohio State/Michigan (Fox): 10.5m
The big question. What impact will an all-SEC national championship have on ratings?
The last all-SEC national championship game (Alabama/LSU in 2012) was the lowest-rated finale over the past 16 years.
Quote from Chuck Neinas — Former Commissioner @ Big 12 Conference:
“We met the day after the game and said, ‘We need to look at a different system,’”
