/ 01.11.2011 12:00AM
BCS Championship Nets Record Overnight
GLENDALE, ARIZ.: ESPN pulled in a record overnight rating for
last night’s BCS championship game between the Auburn Tigers and the Oregon
Ducks. The telecast of the Tigers pulling out a 22-19 victory over the Ducks
generated a 16.1 Nielsen overnight metered-market rating, ESPN said. The
network called it “the highest in the history of cable television,” or back to
2001.
The previous high was 14.4 for an ESPN Monday Night Football game between
the New England Patriots at New Orleans Saints on Nov. 30, 2009. The sports
franchise said the 16.1 was higher than two of the previous six BCS title
games; a 15.6 in 2008 and a 14.6 in 2005. ESPN consequently won prime time
among all nets.
National ratings are expected this afternoon. ESPN said it expected the telecast
to “become the most-viewed program in the history of cable television.” The
current topper is an NFL game between the Packers and the Vikings fought out
Oct. 5, 2009, generating a 15.3 national rating.