ESPN continues to see ratings gains in the final year of the BCS college football system.
Thursday’s Sugar Bowl, which saw Oklahoma upset Alabama 45-31, spiked 61% from last year to 16.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen fast nationals. The game was the most-viewed Sugar Bowl since 2004.
The telecast of No. 11 Oklahoma’s upset over the third-ranked Crimson Tide also rose 50% from last year to a 9.3 household rating.
Through its first three BCS bowl games, ESPN has trended 23% higher than 2013 with an average of 15.4 million viewers. Coverage continues with the Orange Bowl Friday night.
Source: Multichannel News, 1/3/13
