ABC Reupping Saturday Prime College Football
By John Consoli MediaWeek May 1, 2007

College football on Saturday nights in prime time will return on ABC this fall, beginning Sept. 1 and continuing through Dec. 1, following a successful first-year run last season. ABC will also air two Nascar Nextel Cup races in prime time on Sept. 8 and Oct. 13.

The network, in an agreement with sister cable network ESPN, which has the rights to the college games, moved them into broadcast prime time on Saturdays, replacing scripted programming, and the result was a household ratings boost of 24 percent over the previous year.

The telecasts last season started out strong, and some weeks, depending on the matchups were softer then others, but overall the telecasts won the night on six Saturdays in households and demos. College football on Saturdays averaged a 5.0 household rating and 7.8 million total viewers per telecast, up from a 4.1 rating and 6.2 million viewers the previous year.

In demos, Saturday Night Football drew a 2.7 rating among adults 18-49, 29 percent higher than the 2.1 in 2005 for scripted programming. Among men 18-34, it drew a 3.2 rating, up 68 percent from a 1.9.

“The addition of Saturday Night Football to our lineup gave sports fans access to great college football coverage,” said Steve McPherson, ABC entertainment president. “It also delivered a new audience for ABC, strengthening our schedule for Saturday and overall. We’re glad to have this successful franchise back for the coming season, and hope to continue the partnership for a long time to come.”

The 12-week telecast season will open on Sept. 1 with the University of Tennessee vs. University of California, followed by USC vs. Nebraska on Sept. 15; and a split telecast of Washington State vs. USS and Iowa vs. Wisconsin on Sept. 22. On Oct. 6, Notre Dame will meet UCLA. Games on the other nights are still in a state of flux. But the network plans to show the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship Game on Dec. 1.

Southwest Airlines will be the Saturday Night Football telecasts’ presenting sponsor.

ABC, which will also begin televising Nascar Nextel Cup races in July, will televise races from Richmond on Sept. 8 and from Charlotte on Oct. 13, in prime time.

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/networktv/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003578961

ABC's 2007 College Football Schedule

(from the ABC Sports News Release)
Sept. 1 8:00 p.m. Tennessee at California
Sept. 15 8:00 p.m. USC at Nebraska
Sept. 22 8:00 p.m. Washington State at USC and Iowa at Wisconsin ^
Sept. 29 8:00 p.m. TBD: Ohio State at Minnesota* and/or USC at Washington*
Oct. 6 8:00 p.m. Notre Dame at UCLA (confirmed); potential additional games:
Ohio State at Purdue** and/or ACC or Big 12 or BIG EAST
Oct. 20 8:00 p.m. TBD: Michigan at Illinois*** or ACC or Big 12
Oct. 27 8:00 p.m. TBD: Ohio State at Penn State*** or Big 12 or BIG EAST
Nov. 3 8:00 p.m. TBD: Oregon State at USC*** or ACC or Big 12 or BIG EAST
Nov. 10 8:00 p.m. TBD: USC at California*** or ACC or Big 12 or BIG EAST
Nov. 17 8:00 p.m. TBD: ACC, Big 12 or BIG EAST
Nov. 24 8:00 p.m. TBD: ACC, Big 12 or BIG EAST
Dec. 1 8:00 p.m. Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship Game

^ Split national telecast
*One or both games will be on ABC; if one game on ABC, the other will be televised in primetime on ESPN or ESPN2
** Notre Dame at UCLA is confirmed for “Saturday Night Football”; Ohio State at Purdue will be televised in primetime on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2.
*** Selected game will be in primetime on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2

And to answer your questions:

(From the ABC Sports news release)

"...Every telecast, beginning September 1 and concluding December 1 with the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship, will kick off at 8:00 p.m., ET and be offered in high definition on ABC HD...."

You can get lots more details and view the entire ABC Sports News Release here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10440899&&#post10440899

It amazes me that they won't carry OU vs. Miami!!(Not on SPN either!)

I can understand your frustration, SbWillie.

But ABC that night will be broadcasting the NASCAR race from Richmond VA.

And ESPN's 8 PM ET game is Notre Dame-Penn State.

But the rest of the ESPN/ESPN2 schedule has not been finalized yet although a pair of games have been already selected.

Miami at Oklahoma cannot air on ESPN because FSN holds the cable rights to Big XII teams home games. ABC will almost certainly have a regional 3:30pm window that day, and maybe even a 12pm national game considering there's no night game. I'd expect this game to air on ABC during that afternoon.

I would expect you are right, AVTVW.

And then it would be on Game Plan, too. If we are lucky, there will be some GP in HD this season.

broadcasting the NASCAR race from Richmond VA.

And ESPN's 8 PM ET game is Notre Dame-Penn State.

Geeee-OKE! :mad:

ND coverage is ridiculous...as is theyear in year out OVERhype! :rolleyes: :mad:

Sorry, SbWillie, you are talking two (Penn State and Notre Dame) of the biggest draws for televised college football. Each of them has garnered top ratings over and over again.

Bring on Rutgers v. West Virginia on *Oct. 27th*

-Probably the highest anticipated game on the Big East schedule, as well as Rutgers v. Louisville...

Bring on Rutgers v. West Virginia on *Oct. 27th*

-Probably the highest anticipated game on the Big East schedule, as well as Rutgers v. Louisville...

I would bet these are ESPN games one on Thursday night and probably one on a Sat night. I wonder what ACC games they'll have on Sat nights.

I would bet these are ESPN games one on Thursday night and probably one on a Sat night. I wonder what ACC games they'll have on Sat nights.

Fully agree...it's amazing how many people watched the RU vs. Louisville game (2nd highest rated CFB game on ESPN ever). I was in Denver for a student conference and must have been stopped 20 times in the course of 4 days.

Fully agree...it's amazing how many people watched the RU vs. Louisville game (2nd highest rated CFB game on ESPN ever). I was in Denver for a student conference and must have been stopped 20 times in the course of 4 days.

Yeah that game was huge just like the Louisville WV game last year. Rutgers isn't going to sneak up on anyone like they did last year, so their games won't be as big of a deal on tv as they were last year. Now, if they're in a position to play for the national title or the conference title we'll see a lot more of them. Plus they lost their starting qb and the fullback so who knows how they'll do this season.

Sorry, SbWillie, you are talking two (Penn State and Notre Dame) of the biggest draws for televised college football. Each of them has garnered top ratings over and over again.
I understand their draw but non-ND fans everywhere know their hype is always just that...

It amazes me that they won't carry OU vs. Miami!!(Not on SPN either!)


I think the OU Bobcats vs. the Miami Redhawks is on FSN (the MAC network). Always a good game.

The best site in my opinion for college football/basketball HD listings is : http://mattsarz44017.tripod.com/football2007.html

A number of games are already up.

It is great that ABC is doing it again it is so nice to see an actula schedule of games I can't wait as this is my favorite sport.

Do that many people really care about Notre Dame?

based on their RCC connection yes.

Bring on Rutgers v. West Virginia on *Oct. 27th*

-Probably the highest anticipated game on the Big East schedule, as well as Rutgers v. Louisville...

With WVU's QB (Pat White) and RB (Steve Slaton) returning as Juniors, I don't see this as much of a 'game' this year as it was last year. WVU beat them last year, and without last year's QB for Rutgers, I don't see anything different this year. Anything can happen, but I wouldn't count on it.

There is already talks of both Pat White and Slaton as Heisman Candiadates. We'll have to see if Slaton can stay healthy for that to take place.

Do that many people really care about Notre Dame?

I don't as I'm sure many people don't. They pull ratings though.

How is this "More" wasn't ABC offering the same amount of coverage last season?

Forgive me for always wanting more HD coverage than the previous year.

With WVU's QB (Pat White) and RB (Steve Slaton) returning as Juniors, I don't see this as much of a 'game' this year as it was last year. WVU beat them last year, and without last year's QB for Rutgers, I don't see anything different this year. Anything can happen, but I wouldn't count on it.

There is already talks of both Pat White and Slaton as Heisman Candiadates. We'll have to see if Slaton can stay healthy for that to take place.

Ain't that the truth. WV's big games are going to be at Maryland on ESPN and Louisville.

With WVU's QB (Pat White) and RB (Steve Slaton) returning as Juniors, I don't see this as much of a 'game' this year as it was last year. WVU beat them last year, and without last year's QB for Rutgers, I don't see anything different this year. Anything can happen, but I wouldn't count on it.

There is already talks of both Pat White and Slaton as Heisman Candiadates. We'll have to see if Slaton can stay healthy for that to take place.

Rutgers returns both their QB from last year, and RB.

Do that many people really care about Notre Dame?

According to the ratings, yes.

as long as no one gets hurt and neither team sucks, I'm luvin it...

Rutgers returns both their QB from last year, and RB.

Really? I don't know why I thought they lost both of them. Good. Game on!! Heheheheh.

How is this "More" wasn't ABC offering the same amount of coverage last season?

Forgive me for always wanting more HD coverage than the previous year.

Yeah. Last year I think that if there was split telecast, both games wouldn't be in HD. From reading the PR, it seems that if there is a split telecast both games will be in HD. So in that sense there should be more HD.

Yeah. Last year I think that if there was split telecast, both games wouldn't be in HD. From reading the PR, it seems that if there is a split telecast both games will be in HD. So in that sense there should be more HD.

Just to make sure we're clear. Last year there was two (or more) saturday night games and only one would be in HD. This year there are two in HD, but each market only gets one of them.

Just to make sure we're clear. Last year there was two (or more) saturday night games and only one would be in HD. This year there are two in HD, but each market only gets one of them.

Yep

Sometimes there were more than two games. But only one was in HD.

Any word on the afternoon games? Hopefully the majority will be in HD.

If there are any SD games at all will be a rare regional game not in HD on ABC.

As I understand it, all national games will be in HD, and, of course, all ESPN and ESPN2 games will be in HD.

I have not heard ABC officially commit to all regional games being in HD, but I would expect that, unless it is a game going to a very small area.

The best site in my opinion for college football/basketball HD listings is : http://mattsarz44017.tripod.com/football2007.html

A number of games are already up.


Wow. Great link. It lists some Big10-HD games already as well, plus some games on versus. Wonder if they will be in HD? It would also be nice for CSTV to broadcast games in HD like it did 2 years ago.

There is also this link for college football TV schedules:

http://www.lsufootball.net/tvschedule.htm

All games on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 will be in HD this year. That was announced months ago. Sorry I don't have a link though.

All games on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 will be in HD this year. That was announced months ago. Sorry I don't have a link though.

Even the late night Hawaii games on ESPN2?

Even the late night Hawaii games on ESPN2?

Good question. I wish I could find the link of where I read an article that said every game is in HD but so far I have been unsuccessfull. I do know the Hawaii Bowl isn't in HD so I would imagine that any game they broadcast from Hawaii isn't going to be in HD. I'll keep looking for that link.

Good question. I wish I could find the link of where I read an article that said every game is in HD but so far I have been unsuccessfull. I do know the Hawaii Bowl isn't in HD so I would imagine that any game they broadcast from Hawaii isn't going to be in HD. I'll keep looking for that link.

Only thing from the island was the pro bowl last year and ESPN paid to have a few airplane loads worth of equipment set up in temporary trailers

FYI- Doubt that this truck would be adequate for such a broadcast, but this was reported several months ago:

“The first Hawaii-based high-definition television mobile truck has reported for duty with John Guild manning the controls (9/10/06)… HAWAII'S FIRST locally owned high-definition television mobile production truck made its broadcast debut last week. John Guild Communications Corp. put the truck through its first real workout Thursday night at Hawaii Theatre, for the KGMB-TV live telecast of a 90-minute forum featuring candidates for Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District… HDTV production has been available from several Hawaii companies for years, but previously, HDTV mobile trucks had to be shipped in from the mainland. Guild's truck is not as large as the 48-foot trucks commonly used at professional sporting events, but is more along the lines of a large van… Guild's truck cost about $1 million and moves his small company "up into the broadcast level, which we've never been in," he said. "We could probably do a whole basketball game." His company has specialized in providing video services for corporate events, the Sony Open and recording local concerts, at the Waikiki Shell, for instance. Guild believes his HD business will "blossom in six months." The company has 5 HD cameras, but the truck has inputs for as many as 16 cameras…

Mainland companies with state-of-the-art trucks equipped with more than a dozen cameras often have contracts with organizations such as the NFL, so the trucks will be in use, generating revenue 100 to 200 days a year, said Ruben Carrillo, co-owner of Honolulu-based Liquid Planet Studios LLC.

Liquid Planet is planning to buy a 48-foot, Expando HDTV mobile truck, that it will outfit with six full-size HD cameras, more in line with the smaller demand in Hawaii. It already has a 48-foot truck equipped for standard-definition TV.

Liquid Planet does work for local commercials and shows such as "Hawaii Stars," but it has also worked with national shows such as "29 Down" and "Beyond the Break." "We have our fingers in a lot of different things," Carrillo said.

Guild's company is smaller, but "we've always tried to be on the cutting edge and now we're on it again," he said.

Source: http://starbulletin.com/2006/09/10/...ss/story01.html


The Liquid Planet website states: "We will be adding an 48ft. Expando HIGH DEFINITION Mobile Production Truck to our fleet of trucks. LPS HD ONE will be a brand new state of the art truck that will be designed and built to fulfill Hawaii’s ever expanding High Definition needs."

Source: http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:TOO3My8LcDoJ:www.lpshawaii.com/index.php%3Fcontent_type_id%3D22+Liquid+Planet+hawaii+hd+tru ck&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us

Does not appear that this has actually been built yet, however.