Indiana football vs Ohio State ‘Big Ten on CBS’ matchup breaks numerous viewing records

Originally posted on Hoosier Illustrated | By Alec Lasley | Last updated 9/6/23

The Indiana football program played a part in a record-breaking viewership window in its season-opener against Ohio Sate. The game, which was the first CBS afternoon primetime game with the new television deal, set multiple records.

Following the weekend numbers, CBS Sports announced that it was the most-watched CBS week one game in 25 years, peaking at one point to 5.711 million viewers.

The game average 4.646 million viewers throughout its entirety which was a 39 percent increase from a season ago for the same window.

Finally, not only was it watched by millions on national tv, the matchup was also the most-streamed game based on households, minutes and average minute audience on Paramount+.

“BIG TEN ON CBS” debuts at 3:30 PM, ET with record viewership for Ohio State-Indiana across platforms: pic.twitter.com/uHaBXtxXhl

— CBS Sports PR (@CBSSportsGang) September 6, 2023

Despite Indiana falling 23-3 to the Buckeyes, the game was relatively close throughout the first three quarters and even into the fourth quarter while Indiana was driving.

Ohio State came into week one as the No. 3 overall team in the country and were held in check by a very good Indiana football defense. The Hoosiers held Heisman candidate and star wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr to just 18 yards.

Indiana also had the only takeaway of the game, with an interception on a key fourth-down in IU territory early in the second quarter.

This is the first season of a seven-year, $8 billion media deal with CBS, NBC and Fox for the Big Ten.

“The power of broadcast TV cannot be underestimated,” Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said at Big Ten Media Days. “Last season, 27 of the 30 most-watched college football telecasts were on broadcast television. This season, the Big Ten will have more games on broadcast TV than any other conference. When the new deal is fully implemented in 2024, we will have 45 broadcast TV games. Big Ten fans will move seamlessly from Fox to CBS to NBC.”

This article first appeared on Hoosier Illustrated and was syndicated with permission.

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