Pac-12 ratings on The CW tops ACC on same network, Big-12 on FS1

• The average viewership for the Pac-12 on The CW, with five games played, is 433,000. 
• The average for the ACC on The CW, with five games played, is 404,000. 
• See below for the numbers on every college football game shown on The CW to date. 

“Midway through this experimental season, the data points to a favorable outcome,” Wilner writes. “TV ratings for Pac-12 football games on The CW have been impressive thus far. At least, the ratings seem impressive given the small sample size and lack of historical context.”

Context is critical, says Wilner, who notes he did not account for “the differences in time slots and head-to-head competition that can shape viewership.” Nor did he examine the impact of lead-in programming. On multiple occasions, Pac-12 games have followed The CW’s highly-viewed NASCAR Xfinity broadcasts. “On an absolute basis, the ratings have limited significance,” he concludes.

Even with the caveats, there is still something to be said about the eyeballs that Washington State and Oregon State are drawing.

The idea that people would stop tuning in for the Cougs and Beavs now that the old Pac-12 is no more?  Yeah, that’s bunk. Washington State and Oregon State fans continue to tune in plus others around the country clearly have an interest in seeing what the Cougars and Beavers are up to.

“The five broadcasts involving Washington State and Oregon State have averaged 433,000 viewers on The CW, with two topping 500,000, according to audience data provided by the SportsMediaWatch website,” Wilner says.

The long-term impact could be important for the upcoming media rights deal. WSU, Oregon State, Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Colorado State and Utah State — plus Gonzaga in basketball — have a new TV deal to forge before 2026. And strong TV ratings are something Pac-12 commissioner Teresa Gould can put in her back pocket.

“Quality ratings this season could spur other media companies to bid on the Pac-12 games, potentially driving up the price,” writes Wilner.

ONE OF THE big things that made The CW attractive to Wazzu and OSU was its reach. Unlike the now-defunct Pac-12 Network, the CW is available in 99 percent of the nation’s homes. And when it comes to the Big-12 on FS1, the Pac-12 holds the advantage.

“(The Pac-12) exceeds the average audience for Big 12 games on FS1 (268,000) which, if nothing else, reflects the immense reach offered by over-the-air networks like The CW,” Wilner said. 

For reference, WSU’s two games on The CW were the wins over Portland State and San Jose State. Oregon State’s three games on The CW are the wins over Idaho State, Purdue, and Colorado State. Here are The CW viewership numbers for 2024, via Nick Daschel at The Oregonian.