From Sports Media Watch:

Quote:ACC Championship ratings were the lowest in six years.

Last Saturday’s Clemson-Pittsburgh ACC Championship Game earned a 2.5 rating and 4.24 million viewers on ABC, down 22% in ratings and viewership from last year (Clemson-Miami: 3.2, 5.43M) and down 24% and 21% respectively from 2016 (Clemson-Virginia Tech: 3.3, 5.34M).

The Tigers’ win ranks as the lowest rated and least-watched ACC title game since 2012, the last time the game aired on cable (FSU-Georgia Tech: 1.2, 1.97M),

Since hitting a record 6.2 and 10.1 million in 2013 (FSU-Georgia Tech), ACC Championship ratings and viewership have declined in each subsequent year. Each of Clemson’s six appearances in the game (2009, 2011, 2015-present) have declined from the previous year.

Clemson was a weak draw throughout the regular season. Of the Tigers’ 12 games on national television this year, nine declined — including eight by double-digits.

The top Clemson game this season — a near-loss to Syracuse that had a 3.0 and 4.48 million — ranked outside of the top 25 overall. Notably, Clemson did not play in the top ACC conference game this season (VT-FSU: 3.4, 5.58M) or the top game involving an ACC team this season (Miami-LSU: 3.8, 6.55M).

The ACC Championship was the lowest rated “Power 5” conference title game, trailing the Pac-12 the previous night (2.6). It edged the Pac-12 game in viewership (4.06M)

Clemson-Pittsburgh closed out a down season for ABC’s Saturday Night Football, which averaged 5.08 million viewers — down 13% from last year (5.83M) and down 17% from 2016 (6.09M).

The full list of championship weekend college football ratings is available here.

[Numbers from Nielsen via ShowBuzz Daily 12.4]

The Coastal was terrible this year. Pitt didn't belong (nor did anybody else in the Coastal). The scoreboard quickly reflected that. Why bother listening to ESPN talk about another title game during an ACC blow out when you can simply change channels and watch it yourself?

Folks often confuse TV ratings. It is multiple things.

Some teams have good ratings whether they suck or not.

Some teams have ehhh ratings whether they are great or not.

It is a double whammy it if is not a competitive game. Given nobody in the ACC but Clemson is anywhere near elite right now hurts. ACC should incentivize football right now because if Clemson stops being elite, the ACC is screwed.

Pay Clemson extra for carry the water of the conference.

Definitely a bad year but the article seems to put the major part of the blame on Clemson more so than on how bad the league was overall. Also, we are on opposite the Big Ten championship game, so considering the competition the results are not that surprising.

However, this football season was not good especially since we are trying to hype up the ACCN for this fall.

Let's hope Clemson wins the NC this year, giving the league 3 football championships in 6 years to hype up.

Cheers,
Neil

As far as championship games go, I think most fans didn't think there was much doubt that Clemson was going to punch its ticket to the CFP. So why not watch a different game where that question was in doubt (OSU - NW)?

As for the regular season, it's hard to put any blame on Clemson for the suckage of their opponents this year. Their games weren't the most interesting in their time slot most of the time because of that suckage.

A concern I have is that, while this is viewed as a down year for ACC football, that's because the previous two years were boom years. 2018 may well have been the league regressing to the mean. Our average power ratings this year were pretty much equal to our six year average and a bit better than our ten year average.

(12-06-2018 01:48 PM)ken d Wrote:  As far as championship games go, I think most fans didn't think there was much doubt that Clemson was going to punch its ticket to the CFP. So why not watch a different game where that question was in doubt (OSU - NW)?

Ad for the regular season, it's hard to put any blame on Clemson for the suckage of their opponents this year. Their games weren't the most interesting in their time slot most of the time because of that suckage.

A concern I have is that, while this is viewed as a down year for ACC football, that's because the previous two years were boom years. 2018 may well have been the league regressing to the mean. Our average power ratings this year were pretty much equal to our six year average and a bit better than our ten year average.

True overall, but ultimately I think how strong a league is perceived may be based mainly upon number of ranked teams; where those teams are ranked; and strength of brand of those ranked teams.

And in those measurements, the ACC was definitely lacking in comparison with every year previously from 2013-2017.

The league was due to have a down year. I don't believe it will continue beyond maybe next year. The coaching in this league and the recruiting is too good to be down long.

Cheers,
Neil

(12-06-2018 01:30 PM)nole Wrote:  Folks often confuse TV ratings. It is multiple things.

Some teams have good ratings whether they suck or not.

Some teams have ehhh ratings whether they are great or not.

It is a double whammy it if is not a competitive game. Given nobody in the ACC but Clemson is anywhere near elite right now hurts. ACC should incentivize football right now because if Clemson stops being elite, the ACC is screwed.

Pay Clemson extra for carry the water of the conference.

How does paying more money to Clemson help ACC football TV ratings? I was under the impression that each ACC school was already highly incentivized to win football games; hence coaches who don't win getting fired quickly. See UNC.

I wish there was a simple solution but I don't see one. Basically, I see the conference wishing and hoping that Va.Tech, Miami or FSU returns to their glory days or that some other ACC program that isn't currently a power program becomes a power program. I know we all have our hopes and dreams but I don't see any other ACC school likely to emerge as a power program.

So how does this influence the division realignment idea...?

It was a down year for all of college football. The PAC, B1G & ACC were down. Who was dominant in the PAC or B1G? Alabama & Clemson have continued to separate themselves. Luckily for the SEC they also have Georgia. Texas is showing signs of a reemergence for the B12. We’ll see just how good ND is this year in the CFP, I’m expecting a big loss to Clemson. The ACC has Miami, FSU & VT who have all shown the ability to compete with the elite. Richt should have the Canes recovered from their Golden hangover soon. Taggert & Fuente are solid coaches & hopefully Satterfield can have our Cards playing top 20 ball soon. The B1G just lost Urban & the B12 lost Stoops, Dabo & Saban are the best in the game right now.


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(12-06-2018 04:00 PM)Lenvillecards Wrote:  It was a down year for all of college football. The PAC, B1G & ACC were down. Who was dominant in the PAC or B1G? Alabama & Clemson have continued to separate themselves. Luckily for the SEC they also have Georgia. Texas is showing signs of a reemergence for the B12. We’ll see just how good ND is this year in the CFP, I’m expecting a big loss to Clemson. The ACC has Miami, FSU & VT who have all shown the ability to compete with the elite. Richt should have the Canes recovered from their Golden hangover soon. Taggert & Fuente are solid coaches & hopefully Satterfield can have our Cards playing top 20 ball soon. The B1G just lost Urban & the B12 lost Stoops, Dabo & Saban are the best in the game right now.


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ND was good enough to win all twelve of the games it played. Is there any way to be "better" than 12-0?

As an aside, I saw an interesting (to me, anyway) stat:

ND has had 6 undefeated regular seasons since 1950.

Two of them have occurred in the past six years under Brian Kelly.

(12-06-2018 04:22 PM)TerryD Wrote:  Is there any way to be "better" than 12-0?

ccg ...

STAND TO LOSE

(12-06-2018 04:22 PM)TerryD Wrote:  

(12-06-2018 04:00 PM)Lenvillecards Wrote:  It was a down year for all of college football. The PAC, B1G & ACC were down. Who was dominant in the PAC or B1G? Alabama & Clemson have continued to separate themselves. Luckily for the SEC they also have Georgia. Texas is showing signs of a reemergence for the B12. We’ll see just how good ND is this year in the CFP, I’m expecting a big loss to Clemson. The ACC has Miami, FSU & VT who have all shown the ability to compete with the elite. Richt should have the Canes recovered from their Golden hangover soon. Taggert & Fuente are solid coaches & hopefully Satterfield can have our Cards playing top 20 ball soon. The B1G just lost Urban & the B12 lost Stoops, Dabo & Saban are the best in the game right now.


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ND was good enough to win all twelve of the games it played. Is there any way to be "better" than 12-0?

As an aside, I saw an interesting (to me, anyway) stat:

ND has had 6 undefeated regular seasons since 1950.

Two of them have occurred in the past six years under Brian Kelly.

I didn’t say that ND wasn’t good or undeserving of their CFP spot, I just think that Clemson is that much better. ND deserves & earned their spot, well done.


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(12-06-2018 04:32 PM)green Wrote:  

(12-06-2018 04:22 PM)TerryD Wrote:  Is there any way to be "better" than 12-0?

ccg ...

STAND TO LOSE

13-0 > 12-0 & comes with a championship to boot. Oklahoma jumping ND wouldn’t have surprised me. If they had a better defense I think they would have.


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(12-06-2018 04:22 PM)TerryD Wrote:  As an aside, I saw an interesting (to me, anyway) stat:

ND has had 6 undefeated regular seasons since 1950.

Two of them have occurred in the past six years under Brian Kelly.

Interesting... are you ready to say that Kelly is as good as Parseghian or Holtz?

(12-06-2018 04:52 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(12-06-2018 04:22 PM)TerryD Wrote:  As an aside, I saw an interesting (to me, anyway) stat:

ND has had 6 undefeated regular seasons since 1950.

Two of them have occurred in the past six years under Brian Kelly.

Interesting... are you ready to say that Kelly is as good as Parseghian or Holtz?

I will when he wins a national championship or two.

I have always believed that Kelly is a good coach and the best candidate when hired.

He doesn't get enough credit, in my opinion.

(12-06-2018 04:36 PM)Lenvillecards Wrote:  

(12-06-2018 04:22 PM)TerryD Wrote:  

(12-06-2018 04:00 PM)Lenvillecards Wrote:  It was a down year for all of college football. The PAC, B1G & ACC were down. Who was dominant in the PAC or B1G? Alabama & Clemson have continued to separate themselves. Luckily for the SEC they also have Georgia. Texas is showing signs of a reemergence for the B12. We’ll see just how good ND is this year in the CFP, I’m expecting a big loss to Clemson. The ACC has Miami, FSU & VT who have all shown the ability to compete with the elite. Richt should have the Canes recovered from their Golden hangover soon. Taggert & Fuente are solid coaches & hopefully Satterfield can have our Cards playing top 20 ball soon. The B1G just lost Urban & the B12 lost Stoops, Dabo & Saban are the best in the game right now.


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ND was good enough to win all twelve of the games it played. Is there any way to be "better" than 12-0?

As an aside, I saw an interesting (to me, anyway) stat:

ND has had 6 undefeated regular seasons since 1950.

Two of them have occurred in the past six years under Brian Kelly.

I didn’t say that ND wasn’t good or undeserving of their CFP spot, I just think that Clemson is that much better. ND deserves & earned their spot, well done.


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I am just saying that ND won every game it played. You can't do better than that.

I didn't watch the ACC championship game because I didnt expect it to be a game and it wasnt. I watched other conference title games instead. MWC and BIG. It is what it is this year. It just wasn't a compelling game in any way

(12-06-2018 04:00 PM)Lenvillecards Wrote:  It was a down year for all of college football. The PAC, B1G & ACC were down. Who was dominant in the PAC or B1G? Alabama & Clemson have continued to separate themselves. Luckily for the SEC they also have Georgia. Texas is showing signs of a reemergence for the B12. We’ll see just how good ND is this year in the CFP, I’m expecting a big loss to Clemson. The ACC has Miami, FSU & VT who have all shown the ability to compete with the elite. Richt should have the Canes recovered from their Golden hangover soon. Taggert & Fuente are solid coaches & hopefully Satterfield can have our Cards playing top 20 ball soon. The B1G just lost Urban & the B12 lost Stoops, Dabo & Saban are the best in the game right now.


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I agree that it was a slightly down year for all of college football, but the ACC's down year wasn't slight. I get no pleasure in saying that either. Was the Big Ten down this year as well? Yes, but then they had 4 teams finished in the Top 8 two years ago and three last year. So only three in the Top 12 this year is slightly down for them.

The ACC went from having at least two teams in the Top 12, plus one or two more additional teams in the Top 25 from 2013-2017, to this year with 1 team ranked #2 and the other ranked at #20. And yes we all know that historically FSU, Miami and VT should be better, none of it changes the fact that they weren't good this year.

Here's hoping for better years (Top 10 or Top 12) from Miami and VT next year and FSU can have one more unranked year to allow Syracuse to show some consistency.

Cheers,
Neil

(12-06-2018 03:23 PM)ecuacc4ever Wrote:  So how does this influence the division realignment idea...?

If Delany decides to get on board with no divisions and having the two best teams meet in conference championship games then there probably will be no need to do divisional realignment.

Cheers,
Neil

(12-06-2018 05:41 PM)TerryD Wrote:  I am just saying that ND won every game it played. You can't do better than that.

Apparently the committee thought that Oklahoma, Georgia, Ohio State and Michigan all did better than UCF, which won every game they played... so I guess it IS possible?