College football on ABC, highlighted by the weekly Saturday Night Football Presented by Southwest Airlines, continues to post audience increases over last year. Through October 15, ABC is averaging a 3.7 rating, 4,223,000 households and 5,730,000 total viewers for increases of 16 percent (vs. 3.2), 14 percent (3,719,000) and 12 percent (5,125,000), respectively, over last year at the same point.

Saturday Night Football, broadcast television’s only weekly prime-time college football series, is averaging a 4.3 rating, 4,921,000 households and 6,969,000 total viewers for five games. This represents increases of 26 percent (vs. 3.4), 26 percent (3,911,000) and 28 percent (5,447,000), respectively, over last year.

In addition, ABC and ESPN combined to post the top two most-viewed and highest-rated college football telecasts across all networks for Saturday, October 15. ABC had the top spot with a 3.8 rating, 4,309,000 households and 5,587,000 viewers for its Oklahoma State at Texas and Ohio State at Illinois split national broadcast at 3:30 p.m. ET. ESPN’s telecast of Michigan at Michigan State – which delivered a 3.3 rating, 3,764,000 households and 4,777,000 viewers – was second.

– 30 –

Contacts: Mike Humes at 860-766-2233; [email protected]