Ohio State’s victory over Oregon on Monday night averaged 33.4 million viewers and 18.2 percent of homes on ESPN, making the inaugural College Football Playoff championship game the most-viewed and highest-rated show in cable television history.
The previous record was set Jan. 1, when 28.3 million watched Ohio State upset Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. No. 3 on the list at 28.2 million is Oregon’s victory over Florida State in the Rose Bowl, also Jan. 1.
Before this month, the most-viewed cable telecast had been the 2011 BCS final between Oregon and Auburn, at 27.3 million.
By comparison, “Made in America,” the series finale of HBO’s “The Sopranos,” attracted 11.9 million viewers when it aired June 10, 2007, according to Wikipedia.
Despite the cable TV mark, ESPN’s telecast fell short of the most-viewed championship game from the BCS era: Texas’ victory over Southern Cal in the 2006 Rose Bowl, which averaged 35.6 million on ABC.
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