BCS broadcast makes cable ratings history
Challenger, a bald eagle, circles the stadium during the national anthem for the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game between the Oregon Ducks and Auburn Tigers. (Jan. 10, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
The BCS Championship Game Monday night between Auburn and Oregon was the most-watched scheduled program in the history of cable television, ESPN said.
Auburn's 22-19 victory over Oregon averaged 27.3 million viewers, easily surpassing the 21.8 million for Brett Favre's first game against the Packers on ESPN in October 2009.
The milestone was not a surprise, given the game's move to ESPN, making it the most important U.S. sports championship contested outside a broadcast network.
Last year's BCS finale on ABC attracted 30.9 million for Alabama's victory over Texas.
The game Monday averaged 15.3 percent of households nationally, led by 67.0 in the Birmingham, Ala., area. Among 56 major markets measured, New York ranked last at 8.1 percent.
The BCS' success followed a record ratings weekend for the NFL. Sunday's Packers-Eagles game on Fox averaged 39.3 million viewers, the most ever in the wild-card round.
Saturday's Jets-Colts game on NBC drew 33.4 million viewers, the most for a prime-time wild-card game.
