The Big Ten women’s college basketball game on Sunday between Iowa and Ohio State averaged 1.93 million viewers on NBC and Peacock with a peak of 3.9 million during overtime from 2-2:18 p.m. EST. Despite a strong effort by Iowa, led by reigning AP Player of the Year award-winner Caitlin Clark, the Ohio State Buckeyes claimed the 100-92 upset victory.
On NBC stations alone, the game averaged 1.86 million viewers throughout its broadcast window, which began at 12 p.m. EST/9 a.m. PST. The viewership figure places the contest as the most-watched regular season women’s college basketball game on any network since 2010.
NBCUniversal is in the first year of its agreement with the Big Ten Conference, for which it is paying a reported $350 million a year to air football and basketball games. According to the original terms of the deal, Peacock will air 77 regular season men’s and women’s basketball contests. The network recently completed the first season of its B1G Saturday Night broadcasts featuring play-by-play announcer Noah Eagle, color commentator Todd Blackledge and sideline reporter Kathryn Tappen. The company also came to terms on a new contract with the University of Notre Dame, ensuring Fighting Irish home games remain on NBC platforms through the 2029 season.
Peacock will continue its slate of exclusive Big Ten women’s basketball games – which includes more than 20 games streaming live on the platform this season – this Thursday at 7 p.m. EST/4 p.m. PST. The featured matchup will include Ohio State, ranked No. 12 in the country, visiting Illinois to face the Fighting Illini.
