during the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 11, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona.
2016By Ken Fang on

While the ratings for the College Football National Championship Game on various ESPN platforms were down from 2015, the Worldwide Leader does have some encouraging news. The Alabama-Clemson game is now the second most-streamed event on WatchESPN after the 2014 World Cup.

Alabama-Clemson had 585,000 average minute impressions which was 23% better than the 2015 National Championship Game between Oregon and Ohio State. Unique visitors were up 38% and total consumption increased by 32%. So across the board, more people were watching the game online than the year before.

Another piece of encouraging news is that people are finding WatchESPN for college football. With the ability to watch the games on computers, mobiles, tablets and smartwatches, fans may not be watching on television, but they’re looking for ways to see the College Football Playoff online. The top six most-streamed college football games as far as unique visitors are concerned involve the CFP:

Rank Unique Viewers Game Date
1 1,934,000 CFP National Championship: Alabama vs. Clemson Jan 11, 2016
2 1,406,000 CFP National Championship: Ohio State vs. Oregon Jan 12, 2015
3 1,188,000 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Clemson Dec 31, 2015
4 1,047,000 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl: Michigan State vs. Alabama Dec 31, 2015
5 912,000 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl: Ohio State vs. Alabama Jan 1, 2015
6 816,000 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Florida State Jan 1, 2015

For the average minute impressions, the breakdown occurs as follows:

Rank Average Minute Impressions Game Date
1 585,000 CFP National Championship: Alabama vs. Clemson Jan 11, 2016
2 475,000 CFP National Championship: Ohio State vs. Oregon Jan 12, 2015

So ESPN has some encouragement that the online audience will keep growing as the College Football Playoff continues through 2025-26.

[ESPN]

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013.

He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television.

Fang celebrates the four Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

View all posts by Ken Fang

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