SMW Championship Week Summary:

https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2021/12...incinnati/

SMW usually compares ratings of a given week to the same week the previous year. Because of COVID-19, they have this year compared them to 2019 as well. I have not found them useful in previous years since Game X was on Week X in 2019 vs. Game Y on the same week this year and Game X and Game Y aren't comparable. Now championship games of the same conference are often more comparable although teams can be different and affect the ratings. COVID-19 hurt practically every conference championship other than the ACC because Notre Dame played in it and the time slots were all shuffled (ironically the SEC was in prime time last year and did way worse than it did in the usual mid afternoon slot in either 2019 or 2021). By contrast, the ACC did way better in the mid afternoon slot in 2020 than in prime time in 2019 or 2021.

The Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac 12 were up from 2020 but were down from 2019. The SEC was up from both 2020 and 2019. The AAC set a record viewership in 2021. "Despite facing the SEC Championship head-to-head, the Cincinnati-Houston American Athletic Championship averaged a 2.0 and 3.42 million — the largest audience ever for the game and up 77% and 81% respectively from Cincinnati-Tulsa last year (1.15, 1.88M). Cincinnati’s win edged the previous record for the AAC title game, 3.39 million for UCF-Memphis in 2017."

At least someone unbiased (in other words, not me) might think the Big Ten could be heading for a pay raise.

https://awfulannouncing.com/ncaa/michiga...um=twitter

(12-09-2021 11:46 AM)schmolik Wrote:  At least someone unbiased (in other words, not me) might think the Big Ten could be heading for a pay raise.

https://awfulannouncing.com/ncaa/michiga...um=twitter

oh most definitely Big Ten will be getting a big bump. It will be fascinating what direction it goes. You have to think Fox will want what they have for sure. The question is will they keep the packages the same? If so that 2nd piece gets really attractive obviously to maybe I dunno, CBS? With maybe a Turner component to it as well? And will they actually leave ESPN?

(12-09-2021 11:46 AM)schmolik Wrote:  At least someone unbiased (in other words, not me) might think the Big Ten could be heading for a pay raise.

https://awfulannouncing.com/ncaa/michiga...um=twitter

I would be surprised if anyone thinks the B1G isn't heading for a pay raise.

2021 was a good year for the Big 10 ratings wise. I've been cheering for Ohio State because I've thought they were the best attraction for the Big 10 and the best chance for the Big 10 to win a national championship and if the Big 10 wins a national championship then the Big 10 will get more attention in the "war" with the SEC. No one believes the Big 10 is on par with the SEC in football, Ohio State was (and probably is still) our best chance against the SEC (and Clemson if they are still a national championship threat on a regular basis). If recruits think Ohio State (or Michigan, Penn State, etc) can compete for national championships with the Alabama's, Georgia's, Florida's, and LSU's, they'll come, Big Ten schools will win more championships, and more TV viewers will watch. If Michigan wins this year's national championship, more power to them. Is Michigan winning this year a good thing? It's great to know that a second team in the Big Ten can win. Ohio State/Michigan is the Iron Bowl of the Big Ten. Ohio State had won the previous eight. Alabama/Auburn was competitive the last few years even though Alabama has won multiple national championships and Auburn hasn't won since Cam Newton was there. Ohio State/Michigan is only going to be more popular if the outcome is in doubt and both schools are regular top ten level teams. If Penn State is able to actually beat the Illinois's of the world, we'll have three games a year that can regularly compete in TV ratings with the best of the SEC and not just have to depend on Ohio State all the time. The SEC doesn't always have to depend on Alabama. Alabama didn't even make the Playoff or even the SEC Championship Game in 2019 and the SEC still won the national championship and probably didn't hurt much in the ratings in the SEC Championship Game. Georgia/Michigan is huge for the Big Ten. If Michigan wins, we'll at least get a shot to take down Alabama. If we lose, the SEC wins again.

(12-09-2021 01:28 PM)schmolik Wrote:  2021 was a good year for the Big 10 ratings wise. I've been cheering for Ohio State because I've thought they were the best attraction for the Big 10 and the best chance for the Big 10 to win a national championship and if the Big 10 wins a national championship then the Big 10 will get more attention in the "war" with the SEC. No one believes the Big 10 is on par with the SEC in football, Ohio State was (and probably is still) our best chance against the SEC (and Clemson if they are still a national championship threat on a regular basis). If recruits think Ohio State (or Michigan, Penn State, etc) can compete for national championships with the Alabama's, Georgia's, Florida's, and LSU's, they'll come, Big Ten schools will win more championships, and more TV viewers will watch. If Michigan wins this year's national championship, more power to them. Is Michigan winning this year a good thing? It's great to know that a second team in the Big Ten can win. Ohio State/Michigan is the Iron Bowl of the Big Ten. Ohio State had won the previous eight. Alabama/Auburn was competitive the last few years even though Alabama has won multiple national championships and Auburn hasn't won since Cam Newton was there. Ohio State/Michigan is only going to be more popular if the outcome is in doubt and both schools are regular top ten level teams. If Penn State is able to actually beat the Illinois's of the world, we'll have three games a year that can regularly compete in TV ratings with the best of the SEC and not just have to depend on Ohio State all the time. The SEC doesn't always have to depend on Alabama. Alabama didn't even make the Playoff or even the SEC Championship Game in 2019 and the SEC still won the national championship and probably didn't hurt much in the ratings in the SEC Championship Game. Georgia/Michigan is huge for the Big Ten. If Michigan wins, we'll at least get a shot to take down Alabama. If we lose, the SEC wins again.

I agree, Georgia-Michigan is just massive for the B1G.

The B1G has never had a TV ratings problem, to the contrary, their ratings are always right there, just behind the SEC on an overall basis, and often besting the SEC at the very top, in terms of highest-rated game of the season. B1G schools are enormous, football-rabid schools, and their fan bases are enormous, spread across the country, and unwavering in support regardless of how a particular season is going. So they always tune in.

But on the field, there has been an issue. The B1G is at its peak when Michigan is contending for titles as well. Yes, Penn State is also a full-fledged blue blood, Nebraska has been, and Wisconsin is an elite program too, but the core of the B1G is and always will be Ohio State and Michigan. the B1G is at its peak strength in all ways when both are top programs contending for titles, like in the 1970s when it was Bo vs Woody and in the mid-late 1990s, when Michigan and Ohio State both had title contending teams.

So Michigan making the playoffs is massive. They are finally upholding their side of the bargain, so to speak. If they beat UGA, it will be even better for them.

I still laugh at people who think the sports rights bubble is going to pop.... take a look at this thing-

(12-10-2021 08:40 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(12-09-2021 01:28 PM)schmolik Wrote:  2021 was a good year for the Big 10 ratings wise. I've been cheering for Ohio State because I've thought they were the best attraction for the Big 10 and the best chance for the Big 10 to win a national championship and if the Big 10 wins a national championship then the Big 10 will get more attention in the "war" with the SEC. No one believes the Big 10 is on par with the SEC in football, Ohio State was (and probably is still) our best chance against the SEC (and Clemson if they are still a national championship threat on a regular basis). If recruits think Ohio State (or Michigan, Penn State, etc) can compete for national championships with the Alabama's, Georgia's, Florida's, and LSU's, they'll come, Big Ten schools will win more championships, and more TV viewers will watch. If Michigan wins this year's national championship, more power to them. Is Michigan winning this year a good thing? It's great to know that a second team in the Big Ten can win. Ohio State/Michigan is the Iron Bowl of the Big Ten. Ohio State had won the previous eight. Alabama/Auburn was competitive the last few years even though Alabama has won multiple national championships and Auburn hasn't won since Cam Newton was there. Ohio State/Michigan is only going to be more popular if the outcome is in doubt and both schools are regular top ten level teams. If Penn State is able to actually beat the Illinois's of the world, we'll have three games a year that can regularly compete in TV ratings with the best of the SEC and not just have to depend on Ohio State all the time. The SEC doesn't always have to depend on Alabama. Alabama didn't even make the Playoff or even the SEC Championship Game in 2019 and the SEC still won the national championship and probably didn't hurt much in the ratings in the SEC Championship Game. Georgia/Michigan is huge for the Big Ten. If Michigan wins, we'll at least get a shot to take down Alabama. If we lose, the SEC wins again.

I agree, Georgia-Michigan is just massive for the B1G.

The B1G has never had a TV ratings problem, to the contrary, their ratings are always right there, just behind the SEC on an overall basis, and often besting the SEC at the very top, in terms of highest-rated game of the season. B1G schools are enormous, football-rabid schools, and their fan bases are enormous, spread across the country, and unwavering in support regardless of how a particular season is going. So they always tune in.

But on the field, there has been an issue. The B1G is at its peak when Michigan is contending for titles as well. Yes, Penn State is also a full-fledged blue blood, Nebraska has been, and Wisconsin is an elite program too, but the core of the B1G is and always will be Ohio State and Michigan. the B1G is at its peak strength in all ways when both are top programs contending for titles, like in the 1970s when it was Bo vs Woody and in the mid-late 1990s, when Michigan and Ohio State both had title contending teams.

So Michigan making the playoffs is massive. They are finally upholding their side of the bargain, so to speak. If they beat UGA, it will be even better for them.

Oklahoma and Texas is still a game changer when it comes to the Big Ten vs. SEC ratings race and respect. And as long as the SEC still wins championship after championship they will always have that on the Big Ten.

(12-08-2021 08:21 PM)schmolik Wrote:  ...the ACC did way better in the mid afternoon slot in 2020 than in prime time in 2019 or 2021.

That's not the cause to the effect. The ACC did way better with a top 5 matchup of Notre Dame vs. Clemson than with a top 15 to 20 matchup of Pitt vs. Wake Forest (with no shot at the playoffs for either team).

Something people aren't watching these days anymore, the Heisman Trophy presentation.



1.8 million?

Here are some games this year that were watched by around 1.8 million viewers this year.

Baylor/TCU (1.807M)
LSU/Mississippi State (1.791M)
Tulsa/Ohio State (1.831M)
Pittsburgh/Tennessee (1.739M)

Iowa and Nebraska got 1.945M viewers on Big Ten Network! Boise State-San Diego State got 1.95M viewers when it was 9am in California and 10am in Idaho!

The SMW headline: "What happened to the Heisman Trophy presentation?"

https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2021/12...line-espn/

Bowl Game ratings from ShowBuzzDaily:

https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/skedb...-2022.html

If we use my 5 million threshold for bowl games, the following games between Dec. 27 and New Year's Day made the cut: Orange (duh!), Cotton (duh!), Rose, Sugar, Fiesta, Peach, Citrus, and Music City?? Clemson/Iowa State and the Alamo just missed and Penn State/Arkansas didn't even make it to 4 million.

CBS's one bowl didn't even make 3 million. Now is 2.854M worth it on New Year's Eve compared to their regular NYE programming? Could CBS try to wrestle away a "better" bowl from ESPN? How much are they paying for the Sun Bowl rights? Other than tradition, is it even worth it?

The bottom bowl for ESPN was 1.066 million for Western Michigan/Nevada on Monday 12/27 11am. All other bowl games drew at least 2 million. On the other hand, on Thursday 12/23, ESPN's "First Take" show at 10am-noon had 461 thousand viewers, the noon Sports Center had 392K, and the 1pm Sports Center 460K. So ESPN will gladly take 1 million viewers for a bowl game on Monday morning over their usual lineup. https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showb...inals.html

(01-05-2022 02:10 PM)schmolik Wrote:  Bowl Game ratings from ShowBuzzDaily:

https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/skedb...-2022.html

If we use my 5 million threshold for bowl games, the following games between Dec. 27 and New Year's Day made the cut: Orange (duh!), Cotton (duh!), Rose, Sugar, Fiesta, Peach, Citrus, and Music City?? Clemson/Iowa State and the Alamo just missed and Penn State/Arkansas didn't even make it to 4 million.

CBS's one bowl didn't even make 3 million. Now is 2.854M worth it on New Year's Eve compared to their regular NYE programming? Could CBS try to wrestle away a "better" bowl from ESPN? How much are they paying for the Sun Bowl rights? Other than tradition, is it even worth it?

The bottom bowl for ESPN was 1.066 million for Western Michigan/Nevada on Monday 12/27 11am. All other bowl games drew at least 2 million. On the other hand, on Thursday 12/23, ESPN's "First Take" show at 10am-noon had 461 thousand viewers, the noon Sports Center had 392K, and the 1pm Sports Center 460K. So ESPN will gladly take 1 million viewers for a bowl game on Monday morning over their usual lineup. https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-thursday-12-23-2021-top-150-cable-originals-network-finals.html

About the bolded, IMO the second section shows why there's no reason to use 5 million as a threshold for bowls. If regular ESPN programming is drawing around 400k, and a bowl is drawing a million, well then that bowl does indeed seem to be worth it for ESPN to televise.