US sports broadcaster ESPN has reported record cable television audience and rating figures for its broadcast of Monday’s inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship game.
ESPN, citing figures from information and measurement company Nielsen, said Ohio State’s 42-20 victory over Oregon at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, averaged 33.395 million viewers and an 18.2 US household rating, delivering both the largest audience and highest rating in cable television history.
The National Championship game surpassed both College Football Playoff Semifinals from January 1: the Sugar Bowl (28.271 million viewers) and the Rose Bowl Game (28.164 million viewers), establishing the new most-watched cable program. In all, the first three games of the new College Football Playoff format, the beginning of ESPN’s 12-year rights agreement for the series, are now the top-three most-viewed programs in cable history.
In addition, the simulcast of ESPN’s main telecast of the College Football Playoff National Championship on live streaming platform WatchESPN attracted 1.161 million unique viewers, 82 million minutes viewed and average minute audience of 366,000.
The CFP National Championship now stands as the best college football game ever on WatchESPN based on unique viewers, minutes viewed, and an average minute audience surpassing this year’s Sugar Bowl. It also ranks as the best non-Fifa World Cup event ever on WatchESPN.
“The inaugural College Football Playoff was a resounding success by all measures,” ESPN president John Skipper said. “Fans responded in record numbers across television and digital platforms. It’s been a great first year and we look forward to the opportunity to build upon the excitement as we continue our long-term commitment to this tremendous event.”