ESPN earned a 4.5 overnight rating for West Virginia's 70-33 win over Clemson in the Discover Orange Bowl last night, the biggest blowout in BCS history. The game is down 46% from a 8.4 for Ohio State's win over Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl last year, the fourth BCS game of '11. Last night also is down 37% from last year's Orange Bowl game featuring Stanford and Virginia Tech. Through four games this year, the BCS is down 13% compared to '11 (7.4 vs. 8.5). ESPN for the first three BCS matchups had averaged a 9.5 rating, up 3% from a 9.2 last year. Meanwhile, behind the strength of a dramatic Rose Bowl and an overtime Fiesta Bowl, Monday was the highest-rated and most-viewed day in ESPN history. The net averaged a 4.4 rating and 4.40 million HHs. The previous high was Jan. 1, 2011, when ESPN averaged a 4.3 rating and 4.26 million HHs (THE DAILY).
BILL OF GOODS: In Buffalo, Greg Connors notes starting with the '12 preseason exhibitions, all Bills games “will be heard" on Entercom's WGR-AM. The multiyear agreement “also calls for new live programs” featuring coach Chan Gailey, GM Buddy Nix and CEO Russ Brandon, as well as “player-hosted shows, to appear on various Entercom stations.” Brandon confirmed that John Murphy “will continue as the radio voice of the Bills, working with analyst Mark Kelso.” WGR is also the radio home of the Sabres (BUFFALO NEWS, 1/5).
SAVING THE SOONERS: In Oklahoma City, Berry Tramel notes the reported deal being finalized between the Univ. of Oklahoma and Fox Sports is the type that “saves the Sooners from huge startup costs.” OU had good infrastructure “already; a quality studio and production staff that already has been turning out super projects like the DVD history of OU football.” But to start a network and “hire sales staff and extra talent and find distributors, well, that’s a killer.” That is where ESPN “propped up Texas, accounting for enormous startup costs.” Tramel noted the distribution “remains a huge problem for The Longhorn Network, since the major cable and satellite providers have not signed on.” Fox Sports “already is up and running with everyone” (NEWSOK.com, 1/4).
CHUTES AND LADDERS: The GLOBE & MAIL’s Bruce Dowbiggin wrote Tuesday’s TV marathon of the IIHF World Junior hockey tournament was “seven hours of tension-filled chutes and ladders.” TSN created this “television monster and so milked every moment of the turbulence, with Gord Miller and Ray Ferraro riding the pressure drops with only a one-hour rest between games.” Miller and Ferraro did “about as well you could with so many plot changes,” and they were “supportive of Canada without descending to Jack Edwards jingoism.” Dowbiggin: “Best of all, they were helped by having a sense of self-deprecating humour in the face of huge mood swings” (GLOBEANDMAIL.com, 1/4).
