The Bobcat Nation

The North Dakota State/Jacksonville State FCS national championship game scored 1.4 million viewers on ESPN2 last Saturday afternoon, off 7% from NDSU/Illinois State last year (1.44M to 1.35M) but up 9% from NDSU/Towson in 2014 (1.2M). Outside of an NFL Wild Card Game, the Bison’s fourth-straight title was the most-watched sporting event on the ESPN family of networks last weekend. (via SBD)

Of note, the Chipper outperformed the Potato Bowl, Miami Beach Bowl, and Poinsettia Bowl. In terms of other championship games in the G5, only the AAC championship game outperformed with 2.188 mil. viewers. The MWC (362k), C-USA (488k), and MAC (1.034 mil.) were all significantly less viewed... Perhaps it's time somebody in the FCS figures out why there is no money in the TV rights for this playoff.

oedipuss wrote:The North Dakota State/Jacksonville State FCS national championship game scored 1.4 million viewers on ESPN2 last Saturday afternoon, off 7% from NDSU/Illinois State last year (1.44M to 1.35M) but up 9% from NDSU/Towson in 2014 (1.2M). Outside of an NFL Wild Card Game, the Bison’s fourth-straight title was the most-watched sporting event on the ESPN family of networks last weekend. (via SBD)

Of note, the Chipper outperformed the Potato Bowl, Miami Beach Bowl, and Poinsettia Bowl. In terms of other championship games in the G5, only the AAC championship game outperformed with 2.188 mil. viewers. The MWC (362k), C-USA (488k), and MAC (1.034 mil.) were all significantly less viewed... Perhaps it's time somebody in the FCS figures out why there is no money in the TV rights for this playoff.

Great post. Thank you for pointing this out. There is a passionate fan base in FCS and a number of teams with rabid fans. If the NCAA could ensure NDSU or MSU or UM appeared in the chipper every year, I would think that the revenue tied to the game would see a significant increase. Unfortunately, when a Sac State can advance to the game (cant believe I just said that) with no fan base, the ratings are always at risk to underperform.

The one media issue that always frustrates me is the ESPN3 nonsense of the playoffs. It would seem that ESPN could at least provide local networks the opportunity to broadcast a playoff game instead of forcing everyone to watch it on their laptops.

Cataholic wrote:

oedipuss wrote:The North Dakota State/Jacksonville State FCS national championship game scored 1.4 million viewers on ESPN2 last Saturday afternoon, off 7% from NDSU/Illinois State last year (1.44M to 1.35M) but up 9% from NDSU/Towson in 2014 (1.2M). Outside of an NFL Wild Card Game, the Bison’s fourth-straight title was the most-watched sporting event on the ESPN family of networks last weekend. (via SBD)

Of note, the Chipper outperformed the Potato Bowl, Miami Beach Bowl, and Poinsettia Bowl. In terms of other championship games in the G5, only the AAC championship game outperformed with 2.188 mil. viewers. The MWC (362k), C-USA (488k), and MAC (1.034 mil.) were all significantly less viewed... Perhaps it's time somebody in the FCS figures out why there is no money in the TV rights for this playoff.

Great post. Thank you for pointing this out. There is a passionate fan base in FCS and a number of teams with rabid fans. If the NCAA could ensure NDSU or MSU or UM appeared in the chipper every year, I would think that the revenue tied to the game would see a significant increase. Unfortunately, when a Sac State can advance to the game (cant believe I just said that) with no fan base, the ratings are always at risk to underperform.

The one media issue that always frustrates me is the ESPN3 nonsense of the playoffs. It would seem that ESPN could at least provide local networks the opportunity to broadcast a playoff game instead of forcing everyone to watch it on their laptops.

YES