How readers watch college football: Network comparisons, realignment, viewing habits

It’s nearly impossible to discuss college football without acknowledging the significant impact of television. From conference realignment to lucrative TV deals to new broadcasters, television has become an integral part of the sport’s future, and everyone has an opinion. As part of our midseason assessment of the 2023 season, we conducted our second annual college football TV survey for our readers last week. We received responses from over 3,100 people, covering topics such as preferred broadcasters, ESPN vs. Fox, and more. Here are the results of the survey.

Network comparisons
– 57.7 percent of respondents prefer ESPN/ABC for national game broadcasts.
– CBS came in at 20.3 percent.
– Fox/FS1 received 18.3 percent.
– NBC received the least votes at 3.7 percent.

The results show that ESPN remains the top network, with a share of votes nearly identical to last year’s results. CBS follows closely behind, with Fox maintaining the same percentage as last year. NBC, a new addition this year, garnered a small percentage of votes, but it mainly impacted CBS’ share. Our readers shared their thoughts on their network preferences, with some expressing their appreciation for ESPN’s coverage while others criticized certain aspects of the network’s broadcasts.

Favorite conference network for games
– 41.3 percent of respondents favor the Big Ten Network for games.
– The SEC Network received 39.8 percent of votes.
– The ACC Network came in at 11.5 percent.
– The Pac-12 Network received the fewest votes at 7.5 percent.

When asked to rate the quality of NBC’s Big Ten prime-time broadcasts this year on a scale of 1 to 5, respondents gave the following breakdown of votes:
– 3.2 percent voted 1.
– 11.6 percent voted 2.
– 42.2 percent voted 3.
– 35.7 percent voted 4.
– 7.4 percent voted 5.

Overall, the results indicate positive feedback for NBC’s Big Ten prime-time broadcasts. Readers appreciated the network’s efforts to make the games feel significant, especially through the quality of the broadcasts and pregame show. However, some readers expressed disappointment in the selection of games, considering the substantial amount NBC pays for the rights. Notably, NBC featured more prominent games on their streaming platform, Peacock, to attract viewers.

Favorite broadcast announcer team
– 38.3 percent of respondents prefer Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit on ABC.
– Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt on Fox received 21.9 percent of votes.
– CBS’ Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson came in at 12.1 percent.
– Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy on ESPN received 10.2 percent.

The top four results remained consistent with last year’s survey. ABC’s top team, followed by Fox’s top team, CBS’ top team, and Sean McDonough with his partner (Greg McElroy this year, Todd Blackledge last year). This shows that the networks have successfully chosen their talent based on viewer preferences. Readers shared their opinions on their favorite broadcast announcer teams, highlighting the excellence of Fowler/Herbstreit and Johnson/Klatt.

Favorite college football TV analyst
– 35.1 percent of respondents chose Kirk Herbstreit from ESPN as their favorite.
– Joel Klatt from Fox received 14.8 percent of votes.
– Todd Blackledge from NBC came in at 6 percent.
– Greg McElroy from ESPN received 5.9 percent.

Kirk Herbstreit maintained his position as the favorite college football TV analyst, receiving the highest percentage of votes. Joel Klatt came in second, while Todd Blackledge experienced a significant rise in votes compared to last year. Other analysts like Robert Griffin III also saw an increase in votes. Readers expressed their appreciation for Herbstreit’s analysis and the overall talent of the analysts.

Preference between ESPN’s “College GameDay” and Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff”
– 77 percent of respondents prefer ESPN’s “College GameDay.”
– 23 percent voted for Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff.”

“College GameDay” continues to dominate as the preferred pregame show, although the gap between the two shows has narrowed compared to last year’s survey.

Opinions on Pat McAfee on “College GameDay”
– 30.1 percent of respondents like Pat McAfee on “College GameDay.”
– 48.9 percent do not like him.
– 21 percent have no opinion.

Pat McAfee’s presence on “College GameDay” proved to be a polarizing topic among respondents. Some expressed their enjoyment of McAfee’s energy and contribution to the show, while others considered him an embarrassment and detrimental to ESPN’s credibility. The survey revealed a significant divide in opinions.

Changes in viewership of pregame shows
– 8.4 percent of respondents watch pregame shows more compared to the past.
– 63.3 percent watch pregame shows less.
– 28.3 percent reported no change.

The majority of respondents stated that they watch fewer pregame shows than they used to, although this survey was not conducted scientifically. Despite this, TV ratings indicate that pregame shows are still thriving.

Conference realignment opinions
– 82.7 percent of respondents believe TV networks are biased toward certain conferences.
– 95.5 percent of respondents believe TV networks play an active role in driving conference realignment.

The survey results show that the majority of respondents believe TV networks exhibit bias towards specific conferences and actively contribute to conference realignment.

These results provide valuable insights into readers’ opinions and preferences regarding college football broadcasts and networks. The survey reveals the influence of television in shaping the future of the sport, emphasizing the importance of network choices and analyst teams in viewers’ experiences.

Reference