Sarni's Scrolls: Prime Time a clear winner
By Jim Sarni
Colorado lost the football battle (badly), but Deion Sanders' Buffaloes won the TV ratings war last Saturday
.Saturday’s afternoon Colorado-Oregon game averaged a 5.2 rating and 10.03 million viewers on ABC, marking the largest Nielsen-measured audience of the season. The Buffaloes’ 36-point loss edged the prime time Ohio State-Notre Dame nailbiter on NBC, which averaged a 5.1 and 9.98 million
.Colorado has become a national team this season, despite no TV reputation for decades
.The Colorado State-Colorado game drew 9.30 million viewers. The Buffaloes have now played in four of the top seven games this season
.One factor: Ratings have been dramatically higher in Black households. Coach Prime and his team have captivated Black America and hip-hop culture the way the Los Angeles Raiders of the '80s and Michigan's Fab Five of the '90s did. Colorado hosts No. 6 USC on Saturday (Noon, Fox). Expect another 10 million viewers.
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College football is smoking.
Excluding Rivalry Week, Saturday was the most-watched regular season CFB Saturday ever, with nearly 12 billion total minutes consumed across all rated networks
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Sunday's Atlanta Falcons-Jacksonville Jaguars game in London (9:30 a.m., ESPN+, Disney+ animated Toy Story broadcast) is the first of five NFL International games this season
.The rest:
Oct. 8 -- Jacksonville Jaguars-Buffalo Bills, London, NFL Network Oct. 15 -- Baltimore Ravens-Tennessee Titans, London, NFL Network Nov. 5 -- Miami Dolphins-Kansas City Chiefs, Frankfurt, NFL Network Nov. 12 -- Indianapolis Colts-New England Patriots, Frankfurt, NFL Network.
What's next: The NFL is looking to grow its international footprint to Spain and Brazil.
The Dolphins have international marketing rights in both countries
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Tom Brady opened up in a passionate interview on the popular PBD Podcast with Patrick Bet-David last week. Highly recommended.The nearly two-hour interview took part at the Vault, entrepreneur Bet-David's annual business and leadership conference at The Diplomat in Hollywood, FL.
Brady was loose and comfortable, showing a side of his personality that many have never seen."What you know is limited and what you don't know is limitless, and you have an opportunity every day to surround yourself with people who will help you grow," Brady said
.***Genius Sports unveiled BetVision, which will allow sports fans to stream NFL games and place wagers. This is a game changer...The Dolphins are the most-bet team to win the Super Bowl since Sunday's 70s Show...
QB GQ: Tua Tagovailoa will be the face of the Perry Ellis collection starting next summer. Dude looks great in the duds...
CBSSN will televise Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup final between Inter Miami and Houston from DRV PINK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Ray Hudson, everybody's favorite analyst, is on the call. Leo Messi's availability is a gametime decision
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...CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus will retire in April after 27 years in charge. His successor will be David Berson, who has been president of CBS Sports for 10 years
...NBA TV analyst Hubie Brown turned 90 this week. He is working his 50th season...Travis Kelce will address his relationship with Taylor Swift on his Wednesday podcast with his brother Jason, "New Heights." "I did this to myself," Travis said in a teaser
...Eli Manning wants Swift on the "ManningCast." Good luck with that.
Jim Sarni, BC Class of '69, is a former sportswriter for The Boston Globe and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He resides in Fort Lauderdale and watches a lot of television.