Week 15 prime time ratings.

During Week 15, NBC hit a season high while ESPN plunged towards a season low.

NBC drew a 13.7/21 final rating and 23.1 million viewers for the Cowboys' win over the Giants on Sunday night, up 44% in ratings and 58% in viewership from a 9.5 with 14.6 million for Washington/Giants in '07. Ratings peaked at a 14.4/22 from 9:30-9:45 PM.

Giants/Cowboys finishes as the third-highest rated and second-most viewed NFL telecast on NBC since the network began airing games again in 2006.

Through Week 15, NBC is averaging a 10.1 rating and 16.5 million viewers for SNF, flat in ratings and up 3% in viewers from a 10.1 and 16 million through the same point last year.

On ESPN, Browns/Eagles drew a 7.5 cable rating and 9.9 million viewers Monday night, down 21% and 23% from a Bears/Vikings game on the comparable date in '07. The 9.9 million viewers is the third-fewest of the season for a Monday Night Football game.

So far this season, ESPN is averaging an 8.8 cable rating and 11.8 million viewers for 16 MNF telecasts, up 1% in ratings and 4% in viewership from an 8.7 and 11.4 million through the same point in '07.

Last Thursday night, NFL Network drew 3.6 million viewers for Saints/Bears, up 5% from 3.4 million for the sixth NFL Network telecast of last season, a Steelers/Rams game. The 3.6 million viewers are the third-best of the season for an NFL Network telecast, behind 4.4 million for Jets/Patriots and 3.8 million for Cardinals/Eagles on Thanksgiving night.

Through six telecasts, NFL Network is averaging approximately 3.3 million viewers for live NFL games, down 26% from 4.5 million through six games in '07.

Viewership for prime time Week 15 games.
3.6 mil: Saints/Bears (Thu., 12/11 NFL Network)
23.1 mil: Giants/Cowboys (Sun., 12/14 NBC)
9.9 mil: Browns/Eagles (Mon., 12/15 ESPN)

CBS nabs highest rated, most viewed game of the week.

While much of the attention focused on the strong ratings for Giants/Cowboys on NBC Sunday night, it was CBS that came away with the highest rated, most viewed game of the week.

Regional action featuring Steelers/Ravens drew a 14.7/28 final rating and 24.4 million viewers on CBS Sunday evening, up 1% in ratings from a 14.6 for Eagles/Cowboys on FOX last year. The game was the highest rated, most viewed NFL telecast of the weekend, and finished as one of the five highest rated, most viewed telecasts of the season.

The game averaged a 17.2 rating from 7-7:30 PM, as the Steelers edged the Ravens thanks in part to a controversial call.

So far this season, the late national NFL game is averaging a 13.9 rating on FOX and CBS, down 3% from a 14.3 last year.

Highest rated, most viewed NFL telecasts this season.
15.6, 25.7 mil: Cowboys/Steelers (Sun., 12/7, 4:15 PM FOX)
15.4, 25.5 mil: Patriots/Steelers or Jets/Broncos (Sun., 11/30, 4:15 PM CBS)
15.3, 25.2 mil: Jets/Patriots (Sun., 9/14, 4:15 PM CBS)
14.7, 24.4 mil: Ravens/Steelers (Sun., 12/14, 4:15 PM CBS)
14.7, 23.6 mil: Cowboys/Cardinals (Sun., 10/12, 4:15 PM FOX)

College football numbers game.

Ratings for most of the nationally televised college football games this season. During the 2008 season, ABC averaged a 4.0 rating for 33 college football telecasts, up 3% from a 3.9 last year. Meanwhile, CBS averaged a 3.3 rating for 18 games, down 6% from '07. On the cable side, ESPN averaged a 2.0 cable rating for 69 games, down 5% from last year.

College football ratings.
Thursday, August 28
1.5 (1.8): NC State/South Carolina (7:55 PM ESPN)

Saturday, August 30
3.6/7: Clemson/Alabama or Mich. St/Cal (8 PM ABC)
2.8/7: Regional coverage (3:30 PM ABC)
2.0 (2.3): Virginia Tech/E. Carolina (12 PM ESPN)
1.6 (1.9): Illinois/Missouri (8:30 PM ESPN)
1.0 (1.2): Reverse mirror of ABC coverage (3:30 PM ESPN2)

Sunday, August 31
1.6 (1.9): Kentucky/Louisville (3:30 PM ESPN)

Monday, September 1
4.1 (4.8): Tennessee/UCLA (8 PM ESPN)
1.6 (1.8): Fresno State/Rutgers (4 PM ESPN)

Thursday, September 4
1.6 (1.8): South Carolina/Vanderbilt (8:30 PM ESPN)

Saturday, September 6
4.3 (5.0): Miami/Florida (8 PM ESPN)
2.9/6: Regional coverage (3:30 PM ABC)
2.6 (3.0): Ohio/Ohio St. (12 PM ESPN)
2.3/5: San Diego St./Notre Dame (3:30 PM NBC)
1.8 (2.1): W. Virginia/E. Carolina (4:30 PM ESPN)
1.0 (1.2): Texas/UTEP (10:45 PM ESPN2)

Thursday, September 11
1.8 (2.1): North Carolina/Rutgers (7:30 PM ESPN)

Friday, September 12
1.7 (2.0): Kansas/South Florida (8 PM ESPN2)

Saturday, September 13
7.0/13: Ohio State/USC (8 PM ABC)
3.5/8: Michigan/Notre Dame (3:30 PM NBC)
2.9/7: Georgia/S. Carolina (3:30 PM CBS)
2.4/5: Regional coverage (3:30 PM ABC)
1.7 (2.0): Cal/Maryland (12 PM ESPN)
1.2 (1.4): Oklahoma/Washington (7:45 PM ESPN)
1.2 (1.4): Wisconsin/Fresno State (10:30 PM ESPN2)

Wednesday, September 17
1.3 (1.5): Kansas St./Louisville (8 PM ESPN2)

Thursday, September 18
2.7 (3.2): W. Virginia/Colorado (8:30 PM ESPN)

Friday, September 19
1.2 (1.4): Baylor/Connecticut (8 PM ESPN2)

Saturday, September 20
3.5 (4.1): LSU/Auburn (7:45 PM ESPN)
3.3/8: Regional coverage (3:30 PM ABC)
2.7/6: Florida/Tennessee (3:30 PM CBS)
2.7/5: Georgia/Arizona St. (8 PM ABC)
1.9 (2.3): E. Carolina/NC State (12 PM ESPN)
1.3 (1.5): Wake Forest/Florida St. (7 PM ESPN2)

Thursday, September 25
4.2: USC/Oregon St. (9 PM ESPN)

Saturday, September 27
3.9: Alabama/Georgia (8 PM ESPN)
3.6: Ill./Penn St. or Va. Tech/Nebraska (8 PM ABC)
2.3: Tennessee/Auburn (3:30 PM CBS)
1.8: Purdue/Notre Dame (3:30 PM NBC)

Saturday, October 4
4.2: Ohio St./Wisconsin or Oregon/USC (8 PM ABC)
3.1: Regional action (3:30 PM ABC)
1.8: Stanford/Notre Dame (2:30 PM NBC)

Thursday, October 9
1.7 (2.0): Clemson/Wake Forest (7:30 PM ESPN)

Saturday, October 11
5.4: Texas/Oklahoma (12 PM ABC)
4.6: Regional action (3:30 PM ABC)
3.8/7: LSU/Florida (8 PM CBS)
1.5 (1.8): Oklahoma State/Missouri (8 PM ESPN2)
1.5 (1.8): Penn St./Wisconsin (8 PM ESPN)

Thursday, October 16
1.8 (2.1): Florida St./NC State (7:30 PM ESPN)

Saturday, October 18
3.8: Regional action (3:30 PM ABC)
3.1: Missouri/Texas (8 PM ABC)
2.8 (3.3): Michigan/Penn St. (4:30 PM ESPN)
2.2 (2.6): LSU/S. Carolina (8 PM ESPN)
2.0: Ole Miss/Alabama (3:30 PM CBS)

Thursday, October 23
1.9 (2.3): Auburn/W. Virginia (7:30 PM ESPN)

Friday, October 24
1.1 (1.3): Boise St./San Jose St. (9 PM ESPN2)

Saturday, October 25
6.4: Penn St./Ohio St. (8 PM ABC)
5.1: Regional coverage (3:30 PM ABC)
3.0: Georgia/LSU (3:30 PM CBS)
2.4 (2.8): Alabama/Tennessee (7:45 PM ESPN)
1.8 (2.1): Texas Tech/Kansas (12 PM ESPN)
1.3 (1.5): Illinois/Wisconsin (12 PM ESPN2)
1.1 (1.3): Reverse mirror of ABC coverage (3:30 PM ESPN2)

Thursday, October 30
1.6 (1.8): S. Florida/Cincinnati (7:30 PM ESPN2)

Saturday, November 1
7.5: Texas/Texas Tech (8 PM ABC)
3.8: Georgia/Florida (3:30 PM CBS)
3.7: Regional action (3:30 PM ABC)
2.4: Pittsburgh/Notre Dame (2:30 PM NBC)
1.8 (2.1): Wisconsin/Michigan St. (12 PM ESPN)
1.2 (1.4): Tennessee/S. Carolina (7 PM ESPN2)

Thursday, November 6
1.8 (2.0): Maryland/Va. Tech (7:30 PM ESPN)

Saturday, November 8
5.3: Oklahoma St./Texas Tech or Cal/USC (8 PM ABC)
5.1: Alabama/LSU (3:30 PM CBS)
4.4: Regional action (3:30 PM ABC)
1.6 (1.9): Michigan/Minnesota (12 PM ESPN)
1.5 (1.8): Ohio St./Northwestern (12 PM ESPN2)
1.4 (1.6): Notre Dame/Boston College (8 PM ESPN)

Thursday, November 13
1.8 (2.1): Va. Tech/Miami (7:30 PM ESPN)

Saturday, November 15
3.3: S. Carolina/Florida (3:30 PM CBS)
3.1: Regional action (3:30 PM ABC)
2.9: BC/FSU or Oklahoma St./Colorado (8 PM ABC)
2.8 (3.3): Miss. St./Alabama (7:45 PM ESPN)
2.2 (2.5): Ohio St./Illinois (12 PM ESPN)
1.9: Notre Dame/Navy (12 PM CBS)

Wednesday, November 19
1.4 (1.6): Ball St./Central Mich. (ESPN2)

Saturday, November 22
6.6: Texas Tech/Oklahoma (8 PM ABC)
4.4: Regional action (3:30 PM ABC)
4.3: Michigan/Ohio State (12 PM ABC)
2.3: Ole Miss/LSU (3:30 PM CBS)
1.6: Syracuse/Notre Dame (2:30 PM NBC)

Thursday, November 27
3.0 (3.5): Texas/Texas A&M (8 PM ESPN)

Saturday, November 29
5.7: Oklahoma/Oklahoma St. (8 PM ABC)
2.1 (2.4): Notre Dame/USC (8 PM ESPN)
1.4 (1.7): Virginia/Va. Tech (12 PM ESPN)
1.2 (1.4): Kentucky/Tennessee (7 PM ESPN2)

Friday, December 5
1.5 (1.7): MAC Championship: Buffalo/Ball State (ESPN2)

Saturday, December 6
9.3: SEC Championship: Florida/Alabama (4 PM CBS)
5.5: Big 12 Championship: Oklahoma/Missouri (8 PM ABC)
2.6: ACC Championship: Virginia Tech/Boston College (1 PM ABC)
2.5: USC/UCLA (4:30 PM ABC)
2.0: Army/Navy (12 PM CBS)

College football ratings on cable.

ESPN was down and Versus was up during the 2008 college football season.

During the 2008 season, ESPN and ESPN2 were far and away the highest rated, most viewed college football networks. ESPN averaged a 2.0 cable rating and 2.56 million viewers for 69 college football telecasts, down 5% and 3% from a 2.1 and 2.64 million for 67 games last year.

The top game on ESPN was Miami/Florida in September, which drew a 5.0 cable rating (4.3 U.S. area rating) and 6.9 million viewers.

Meanwhile, ESPN2 averaged a 1.1 cable rating and 1.4 million viewers for 63 college football games, flat in ratings and up slightly in viewership from a 1.1 with 1.3 million last year. For the sixth consecutive season, ESPN2 had its most-viewed year ever for college football coverage.

On Versus, 22 college football games averaged a 0.3 cable rating and 353,000 viewers, flat in ratings but up 17% in viewers from a 0.3 with 303,000 last year. Versus aired its two highest rated, most viewed college football games ever this season -- Oregon/Oregon State, which drew a 1.2 cable rating and 1.6 million viewers on November 29, and USC/Stanford, which drew a 1.0 and 1 million viewers on November 15.

Finally, on FSN, 27 telecasts averaged a 0.6 cable rating and 650,000 viewers, down 25% and 13% from a 0.8 with 750,000 last year. FSN had the biggest decline in ratings of any college football rightsholder this season.

Ratings/viewership data from Sports Business Daily.

College football ratings on broadcast.

ABC was the big winner during the college football season.

During the 2008 regular season, ABC averaged a 4.0 rating and 6.3 million viewers for 33 college football telecasts, up 3% and 7% respectively from a 3.9 and 5.9 million for 32 games in '07. Saturday Night Football in particular averaged a 4.9 and 8 million for thirteen telecasts, up 19% from a 4.1 and 6.4 million for twelve games last year. ABC's highest rating was a 7.5 for the November 1 tilt between Texas and Texas Tech.

CBS was the closest competitor to ABC. For 18 games, CBS averaged a 3.3 rating and 5.1 million viewers, down 6% and 5% from a 3.5 with 5.4 million last year. The decline in ratings comes despite the fact that CBS aired the highest rated game by far, the SEC Championship Game between Florida and Alabama, which drew a 9.3 rating.

On NBC, Notre Dame football averaged a 2.2 rating and 3.2 million viewers for six games, up 22% and 21% from a 1.9 with 2.6 million for seven games in '07. NBC saw the biggest increase in ratings of any of the college football rightsholders.

The 2.2 average rating for Notre Dame football on NBC is the second-lowest since at least 1991, ahead of only last year's 1.9. The highest rated game on NBC was an early-season matchup between Michigan and Notre Dame, which drew a 3.5 rating.

Ratings/viewership data from Sports Business Daily.