Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia Bulldogs

Most-watched Georgia-Florida game in 30-plus years drew nearly 7M viewers

Georgia Coach Kirby Smart says the team was in Jacksonville to do their job, and they did beating Florida 24,17. Quarterback Jake From also talks about coming out on top for the third straight year. (Video by Ryon Horne, Photos by Curtis Compton and Bob Andres)
By
Nov 5, 2019

Georgia’s victory over Florida on Saturday averaged a national TV audience of almost 7 million viewers, making it the most-watched game between the teams in more than 30 years.

CBS Sports’ telecast of the game from Jacksonville, Fla., drew 6.978 million viewers on average, according to the network – the most to watch a game between the Bulldogs and Gators since at least 1988, which is as far back as CBS viewership data goes.

Saturday’s audience peaked with 8.859 million viewers from 6:45 to 7 p.m.

Locally, the game drew a 22.1 rating in the Atlanta market, meaning 22.1% of the market’s households with TVs watched on average. It drew a higher rating in two other markets: Jacksonville (28.0) and Birmingham (24.3).

Nationally, the game was the most watched college football telecast of the day.

About the Author

Tim Tucker, a long-time AJC sports reporter, often writes about the business side of the games. He also had stints as the AJC's Braves beat writer, UGA beat writer, sports notes columnist and executive sports editor. He was deputy managing editor of America's first all-sports newspaper, The National Sports Daily.

Follow Tim Tucker on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Alex Hugo, a former All-American softball player for the Georgia Bulldogs, has gone on to play for the USA Baseball Women's National Team. She’ll also participate in Home Run Derby X during 2025 All-Star Week in Atlanta. (Photo courtesy of USA Baseball)

Credit: Photo courtesy of USA Baseball

She was an All-American at UGA. Now, she’s carving her path in pro baseball.

Alex Hugo was a dominant force on the softball field for UGA, now she's making a name for herself in the baseball world.

SEC quarterback rankings: Where does UGA’s Gunner Stockton fall?

Georgia football will rely on inexperienced Gunner Stockton at quarterback in the coming season. Where does Stockton rank in our preseason list of the SEC's 16 starting QBs?

Former UGA coach Mark Richt’s dad, Lou, dies

Lou Richt, father of former UGA football coach Mark Richt, died Wednesday at age 88 in Watkinsville, where he had been living in a nursing home.

The Latest

Alex Hugo, a former All-American softball player for the Georgia Bulldogs, has gone on to play for the USA Baseball Women's National Team. She’ll also participate in Home Run Derby X during 2025 All-Star Week in Atlanta. (Photo courtesy of USA Baseball)

Credit: Photo courtesy of USA Baseball

She was an All-American at UGA. Now, she’s carving her path in pro baseball.

Former UGA coach Mark Richt’s dad, Lou, dies

Reloaded Georgia lacks star power in SEC offensive unit rankings

Featured

Rebecca Ramage-Tuttle, assistant director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia, says the the DOE rule change is “a slippery slope” for civil rights. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Georgia disability rights advocates fear weakening of U.S. accessibility law

Advocates worry the Department of Energy’s move could be the start of a broader effort by other federal agencies to roll back civil rights rules.

From boycott to ballgame: Baseball’s political All-Star Game saga returns to Georgia

MLB pulled the 2021 All-Star Game from Georgia over the state's voting law, Senate Bill 202. Now it’s back — and Republicans say the return proves they were right all along.

OPINION

Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour pushes fans outside the norm

Preparations for the show pushed people out of their comfort zones — into new stores, new communities, a new style of dress, and in some cases, to visit new cities.