NBC Sports Group Home

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 25th, 2012

NOTRE DAME-MICHIGAN ON NBC WATCHED BY 6.4 MILLION VIEWERS

NEW YORK – Sept. 25, 2012 – NBC Sports’ presentation of Michigan at Notre Dame this past Saturday night was watched by 6.4 million viewers, allowing NBC to win the night in primetime, and making the contest the most-watched Notre Dame primetime game ever on NBC as well as the most-watched Fighting Irish game on the broadcast network in more than two years. Through two games this season, Notre Dame is averaging 4.5 million viewers on NBC, up 28% as compared to the first two games of last season (3.5 million).

Saturday night’s game, which featured then-No. 11 Notre Dame hosting then-No. 18 Michigan in only the second primetime game at Notre Dame Stadium since 1990, was won 13-6 by the Irish. Viewership for the game was up 68% vs. the second Notre Dame game NBC aired last season (Michigan State, 3.8 million, afternoon game on 9/17/11) and up 100% vs. last year’s NBC primetime game from Notre Dame Stadium (USC, 3.2 million on 10/22/11). It was the most-watched Notre Dame game on NBC since the last time the Wolverines came to Notre Dame Stadium two seasons ago (7.0 million viewers on 9/11/10).

The game finished with a 4.0 household rating, indexing at 100% of the overnight rating, and a 7 share. The rating was up 54% vs. last season’s second game vs. Michigan State (2.6), which was played in the afternoon, and up 90% compared to the primetime USC game (2.1).

NBC WINS NIGHT: Saturday night’s game powered NBC to win the night vs. ABC, CBS and Fox in adults 18-49, total viewers and all other key demographics (including a tie among Women 25-54).

In the advertiser-coveted A18-49 demo (2.0/7), Notre Dame-Michigan was NBC’s top-rated non-Olympic Saturday since the night of the Detroit Lions-New Orleans Saints NFL Wild Card game on January 7, 2012.

NOTRE DAME IN PRIMETIME: Saturday night’s game (6.4 million viewers) was the most-watched Notre Dame primetime game on NBC ever, a history consisting of five games since 2009. That year, NBC began broadcasting one Notre Dame off-site home game in primetime per season. Last year, a second primetime game was added when the Irish hosted their first night game at Notre Dame Stadium since 1990, losing 31-17 to USC (3.2 million).

COMING UP: Michigan was the first of two Notre Dame primetime games to air on NBC this season. After a bye this week, No. 10 Notre Dame will host Miami (Fla.) from Soldier Field in Chicago on Saturday night, Oct. 6, at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, as part of its off-site home series.

An Irish victory over the Hurricanes would mean Notre Dame would be 5-0 heading into an afternoon matchup against Stanford on Saturday, October 13. The Cardinal are currently 3-0 and ranked No. 8 in the country.

Following is the remainder of Notre Dame’s schedule of games on NBC this season: