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Despite Blowout, BCS TV Ratings Increase

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The BCS Championship Game's initial television rating is up despite Alabama destroying an overmatched Notre Dame team.

The BCS Championship Game drew a 15.7 overnight rating for ESPN, the exclusive distributor of the Bowl Championship Series. The rating was a 14 percent increase from 2012's BCS Championship Game featuring Alabama's blow out of LSU.

The rating didn't meet ESPN's all-time high for the BCS Championship Game which was 16.1, which came during Auburn's win over Oregon two years ago, which was decided in the final seconds and featured quarterback Cam Newton from the Tigers.

ESPN executives were hoping the matchup of the legendary programs of Alabama and Notre Dame would spike ratings to an all-time high. However, the Crimson Tide had other plans and built a 28-0 lead at halftime, sending viewers looking for something more compelling.

Overnight ratings are released by Nielsen and measure the country's largest television markets. ESPN said it expected a full viewership number later Tuesday afternoon.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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