According to Nielsen, the partnership between Barstool Sports and The CW produced a viewership total of 1.1 million viewers for the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl. This was the network’s first college bowl game and resulted in one of the network’s top three telecasts of the past two years in total viewers and adults 18-49 (320,000). Viewership peaked at 1.9 million total viewers during the final quarter hour.
In head-to-head competition, the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl outperformed the UCLA vs Oregon men’s basketball game on CBS in total viewers by 41 percent. The broadcast also ranks as the network’s second strongest college football game, only surpassed by the Nov. 18 matchup between then-undefeated Florida State and Northern Alabama.
“The CW’s first college bowl game in network history served as the centerpiece of eight straight hours of live sports programming on Saturday alongside our ACC men’s basketball doubleheader, highlighting the power of sports on The CW,” said Brad Schwartz, president of entertainment at The CW Network. “Live sports continue to set new ratings milestones for The CW, reinforcing the reach of broadcast television and establishing the network as a premiere destination for free, high-quality games that appeal to all sports fans.”
However, it doesn’t seem like Barstool will be back for a third year of sponsorship. According to longtime Barstool personality Dan “Big Cat” Katz, the company is unlikely to host the event next year “unless something drastic changes.”
