TV Ratings: Our games vs Bowl games

[Watauga72]

Didn't we have this same debate/argument last year? and the year before? and the year before? and the year before? and the year before? and during all 3 National Championship years? Yep, thought so. Everyone head over to the old MMB and read those threads again and we can all save some time.

Yeah, but what else is there to talk about?

[Watauga72]

The ASU-Montana game was as good a contest as I've ever seen but is not a great indicator for an average FCS game in terms of TV viewership. It was the highest rated televised FCS game of all time and most do not pull nearly that much. For example, the national championship between Montana and Villanova the next week drew a 1.3 which is lower than every bowl game.

Hmmm....no, not correct. The ASU-Montana game was the highest rated FCS Semi-final game. There have been a few championship games that drew higher ratings. Also, since 2009 there have been several FBS bowl games that drew less than 1.3 ratings.

Year BOWL GAME TV RATING ATTEND. TEAMS
2009 Texas 0.3 58,880 Rice-Western Michigan
2010 New Orleans 0.76 30,228 Southern Miss-Middle Tenn.
2009 New Orleans 0.8 30,197 Southern Miss.-Troy
2010 Insight 0.83 45,000 Minnesota-Iowa State
2009 Independence 1 41,567 La. Tech-Northern Illinois
2009 Insight 1.2 49,103 Kansas-Minnesota
2010 International 1.27 22,185 South Florida-Northern Illinois
2009 St. Petersburg 1.3 25,205 South Florida-Memphis

[asumike83]

The ASU-Montana game was as good a contest as I've ever seen but is not a great indicator for an average FCS game in terms of TV viewership. It was the highest rated televised FCS game of all time and most do not pull nearly that much. For example, the national championship between Montana and Villanova the next week drew a 1.3 which is lower than every bowl game.

Hmmm....no, not correct. The ASU-Montana game was the highest rated FCS Semi-final game. There have been a few championship games that drew higher ratings. Also, since 2009 there have been several FBS bowl games that drew less than 1.3 ratings.

Year BOWL GAME TV RATING ATTEND. TEAMS
2009 Texas 0.3 58,880 Rice-Western Michigan
2010 New Orleans 0.76 30,228 Southern Miss-Middle Tenn.
2009 New Orleans 0.8 30,197 Southern Miss.-Troy
2010 Insight 0.83 45,000 Minnesota-Iowa State
2009 Independence 1 41,567 La. Tech-Northern Illinois
2009 Insight 1.2 49,103 Kansas-Minnesota
2010 International 1.27 22,185 South Florida-Northern Illinois
2009 St. Petersburg 1.3 25,205 South Florida-Memphis

Unless it was one of the last two, that is not correct. From GoASU, after the game:
ASU-Montana the Highest-Rated FCS Broadcast Ever

I was only using the 2011 ratings quoted in the initial post as a point of comparison. I'm not all that surprised that there have been some games over the past several years that rated lower than the FCS championship game but there is really no question that we will be seen on TV more in any FBS conference than we would in the SoCon. We haven't played a televised FCS game since 2010.

[Watauga72]

This is from College Sporting News website from 2009. Can't guarantee accuracy.


Top Nine FCS Postseason Games, By U.S. Household Ratings Share
1.1990, Georgia Southern vs. Nevada, I-AA Final at Statesboro, GA (CBS, 2.3 share)
2.1991, Youngstown State vs. Marshall, I-AA Final at Statesboro, GA (CBS, 2.0 share)
3.1992, Marshall vs. Youngstown State, I-AA Final at Huntington, WV (CBS, 1.9 share)
4.1993, Youngstown State vs. Marshall, I-AA Final at Huntington, WV (CBS, 1.8 share)
5.1994, Youngstown State vs. Boise State, I-AA Final at Huntington, WV (CBS, 1.7 share)
6.2009, Appalachian State at Montana, FCS Semifinal (ESPN, 1.6 share)
7.2007, Delaware at Southern Illinois, FCS Semifinal (ESPN, 1.4 share)
8.2007, Delaware vs. Appalachian State, FCS Final at Chattanooga, TN (ESPN2, 1.3 share)
9.2008, Richmond at Northern Iowa, FCS Semifinal (ESPN, 1.2 share)

[hapapp]

This is from College Sporting News website from 2009. Can't guarantee accuracy.


Top Nine FCS Postseason Games, By U.S. Household Ratings Share
1.1990, Georgia Southern vs. Nevada, I-AA Final at Statesboro, GA (CBS, 2.3 share)
2.1991, Youngstown State vs. Marshall, I-AA Final at Statesboro, GA (CBS, 2.0 share)
3.1992, Marshall vs. Youngstown State, I-AA Final at Huntington, WV (CBS, 1.9 share)
4.1993, Youngstown State vs. Marshall, I-AA Final at Huntington, WV (CBS, 1.8 share)
5.1994, Youngstown State vs. Boise State, I-AA Final at Huntington, WV (CBS, 1.7 share)
6.2009, Appalachian State at Montana, FCS Semifinal (ESPN, 1.6 share)
7.2007, Delaware at Southern Illinois, FCS Semifinal (ESPN, 1.4 share)
8.2007, Delaware vs. Appalachian State, FCS Final at Chattanooga, TN (ESPN2, 1.3 share)
9.2008, Richmond at Northern Iowa, FCS Semifinal (ESPN, 1.2 share)

So it is the highest rated FCS game.

[Yosef84]

Didn't we have this same debate/argument last year? and the year before? and the year before? and the year before? and the year before? and during all 3 National Championship years? Yep, thought so. Everyone head over to the old MMB and read those threads again and we can all save some time.

Yes. Yes we did.

[asumike83]

This is from College Sporting News website from 2009. Can't guarantee accuracy.


Top Nine FCS Postseason Games, By U.S. Household Ratings Share
1.1990, Georgia Southern vs. Nevada, I-AA Final at Statesboro, GA (CBS, 2.3 share)
2.1991, Youngstown State vs. Marshall, I-AA Final at Statesboro, GA (CBS, 2.0 share)
3.1992, Marshall vs. Youngstown State, I-AA Final at Huntington, WV (CBS, 1.9 share)
4.1993, Youngstown State vs. Marshall, I-AA Final at Huntington, WV (CBS, 1.8 share)
5.1994, Youngstown State vs. Boise State, I-AA Final at Huntington, WV (CBS, 1.7 share)
6.2009, Appalachian State at Montana, FCS Semifinal (ESPN, 1.6 share)
7.2007, Delaware at Southern Illinois, FCS Semifinal (ESPN, 1.4 share)
8.2007, Delaware vs. Appalachian State, FCS Final at Chattanooga, TN (ESPN2, 1.3 share)
9.2008, Richmond at Northern Iowa, FCS Semifinal (ESPN, 1.2 share)

So it is the highest rated FCS game.

Ah, good catch. That GoASU article was pretty misleading with the "FCS" distinction. All this time, I thought we played in the highest rated FCS (or IAA) game of all time. Bummer.

Still, in terms of exposure, the fact that the highest rated FCS game we've ever played in was right on par with the 2011 Fight Hunger Bowl is pretty telling.

[appbio91]

Bottom line is for the most part nobody really cares about the lesser bowls except the fans of the teams on the field. So that is the same as the FCS playoffs IMO. Yes a few other people will tune in if there is nothing else to watch but it is not a big point of interest.

[asumike83]

Bottom line is for the most part nobody really cares about the lesser bowls except the fans of the teams on the field. So that is the same as the FCS playoffs IMO. Yes a few other people will tune in if there is nothing else to watch but it is not a big point of interest.

I think that is a fair statement. IMO, it's not necessarily the number of viewers for an individual game as it is the number of games televised.

[appbio91]

Bottom line is for the most part nobody really cares about the lesser bowls except the fans of the teams on the field. So that is the same as the FCS playoffs IMO. Yes a few other people will tune in if there is nothing else to watch but it is not a big point of interest.

I think that is a fair statement. IMO, it's not necessarily the number of viewers for an individual game as it is the number of games televised.

True, so in those terms there is a big difference. I was just making the point that to us this year there was no bigger game than the one played in Boone NC between Illinois State and App. Most of the rest of the country or even region could not have given a rats butt about the game. So it did not matter if it was FCS playoffs or wiener king bowl it would have drawn a similar number of viewers had it been on TV.

[asutrnr81]

Take away App and GS and the gap widens even more.

That my friend is a poignant statement! While the SoCon will still exist....it will mostly be a basketball only league.....and if Davidson and with C of C leaving....it may not be a basketball conference long!

Go APPS!

[Watauga72]

Is anyone else as ambivalent about moving to FBS as I? Love the playoff format in 1-AA but hate not getting to see ASU on TV. Hate the minor bowls, but a move up may mean more televised games. Love Appalachian State regardless of where we end up, so not trying to start any arguments on this very overdebated topic...just can't decide which is the best option for ASU.

[JCline0429]

The ASU-Montana game was as good a contest as I've ever seen but is not a great indicator for an average FCS game in terms of TV viewership. It was the highest rated televised FCS game of all time and most do not pull nearly that much. For example, the national championship between Montana and Villanova the next week drew a 1.3 which is lower than every bowl game.

Hmmm....no, not correct. The ASU-Montana game was the highest rated FCS Semi-final game. There have been a few championship games that drew higher ratings. Also, since 2009 there have been several FBS bowl games that drew less than 1.3 ratings.

Year BOWL GAME TV RATING ATTEND. TEAMS
2009 Texas 0.3 58,880 Rice-Western Michigan
2010 New Orleans 0.76 30,228 Southern Miss-Middle Tenn.
2009 New Orleans 0.8 30,197 Southern Miss.-Troy
2010 Insight 0.83 45,000 Minnesota-Iowa State
2009 Independence 1 41,567 La. Tech-Northern Illinois
2009 Insight 1.2 49,103 Kansas-Minnesota
2010 International 1.27 22,185 South Florida-Northern Illinois
2009 St. Petersburg 1.3 25,205 South Florida-Memphis

Thanks for correcting the facts. Rep point.

[JCline0429]

This is from College Sporting News website from 2009. Can't guarantee accuracy.


Top Nine FCS Postseason Games, By U.S. Household Ratings Share
1.1990, Georgia Southern vs. Nevada, I-AA Final at Statesboro, GA (CBS, 2.3 share)
2.1991, Youngstown State vs. Marshall, I-AA Final at Statesboro, GA (CBS, 2.0 share)
3.1992, Marshall vs. Youngstown State, I-AA Final at Huntington, WV (CBS, 1.9 share)
4.1993, Youngstown State vs. Marshall, I-AA Final at Huntington, WV (CBS, 1.8 share)
5.1994, Youngstown State vs. Boise State, I-AA Final at Huntington, WV (CBS, 1.7 share)
6.2009, Appalachian State at Montana, FCS Semifinal (ESPN, 1.6 share)
7.2007, Delaware at Southern Illinois, FCS Semifinal (ESPN, 1.4 share)
8.2007, Delaware vs. Appalachian State, FCS Final at Chattanooga, TN (ESPN2, 1.3 share)
9.2008, Richmond at Northern Iowa, FCS Semifinal (ESPN, 1.2 share)

So it is the highest rated FCS game.

Ah, good catch. That GoASU article was pretty misleading with the "FCS" distinction. All this time, I thought we played in the highest rated FCS (or IAA) game of all time. Bummer.

Still, in terms of exposure, the fact that the highest rated FCS game we've ever played in was right on par with the 2011 Fight Hunger Bowl is pretty telling.

It's telling in that if that is the only bowl we get an invitation to, let's pass.

[JCline0429]

Is anyone else as ambivalent about moving to FBS as I? Love the playoff format in 1-AA but hate not getting to see ASU on TV. Hate the minor bowls, but a move up may mean more televised games. Love Appalachian State regardless of where we end up, so not trying to start any arguments on this very overdebated topic...just can't decide which is the best option for ASU.

Add me to the ambivalent list. As far as TV is concerned, unless we make good money off of it, I don't particularly care as I had much rather see the game in person than on TV...and I will. If it's important enough to be broadcast, I want to be there.

[bcoach]

I'll bet that VT and R wish they were NOT on tv yesterday. What a horrible game. I will admit I don't watch many bowl games but man that was one of the worse games I have ever seen. There have to be at least 10 R students that could do a better job than their starting QB. VT just needs to start all over on the O side of the ball. That mess yesterday is absolute proof that there are just too many bowls if those kind of teams are playing.

[Saint3333]

The ratings were stronger in the 90's than they are now for the championship game. The number of televised games is also smaller than they were in the mid-2000's.

The trend isn't positive.

[MountainMan]

Are some of you guys really debating the distinction between a 0.9, 1.2, 1.53, 1.8 and a 2.0 rating?
Here's a secret -- they are all terrible; essentially no one was watching.

The statistics quoted continue to show what has been widely established:
1) There is very little difference between the bottom of FBS and the top of FCS.
2) The bottom of FBS is not the same as, or even close to, the SEC or the Big-10 or the Big-12 or the ACC, etc. (or the bottom level FBS bowls are not even close to the top 5-7 FBS bowls).
3) Other than the schools involved and their immediate fan bases, the bottom level of FBS schools do not make a real impact on a national level -- they may get "national exposure" by being shown on national TV, but virtually no one is watching.

Before slamming me for being "small time", let me say that I support a move to FBS. FCS as we know/knew it is disappearing and there is little left to achieve for schools like ASU or GSU, etc. But, we should be realistic about what we will be doing and where we are headed -- it can be fun to watch and support and be a part of, but it's not "big time" football.

[TheMoody1]

But, we should be realistic about what we will be doing and where we are headed -- it can be fun to watch and support and be a part of, but it's not "big time" football.

To some folks all college football is the pee-wee league. The only "big time" football is the NFL.

[AppinVA]

But, we should be realistic about what we will be doing and where we are headed -- it can be fun to watch and support and be a part of, but it's not "big time" football.

To some folks all college football is the pee-wee league. The only "big time" football is the NFL.

Yeah, those are folks that never played the game. This coming from someone that's never played the game, but has been close enough to it over the years to develop an appreciation for it at all levels.