Holy Miss-Information! You guys are looking at this all wrong. I've been in the business or ratings for a long time, and these numbers are fantastic when you look at where and how the information is gathered and then compared to other games.
That number, in thousands, is probably all viewers 2+, but could be all adults 18+ (no info on web site as to which demo it is) The viewing is measured in overnight markets via a Nielsen set top devise that records who's in the HH viewing what for how long. Someone in the HH controls the set top to record who is watching. Ages etc are already recorded. So, these numbers do not include any market under number 50 as that's the cut off line for Nielsen, like Lafayette, BR,or New Orleans... Again, with no disclaimer or info on the site, the number could be an computation of % of viewers watching the game. The Ark state game came in with 767,000 viewers, good for a half point rating. That's a half a percentage point of all adults over the age of 2+ or 18+, which ever was the demo. Perfectly legal to round that to a 1 rating.
You guys that are dumping on ESPN U I don't get. How much do you think it would cost you to buy a commercial in the Troy game if the viewing number is the same as Ark State Game...the half point. Network Cable Cost per Rating Point is probably in the $12000 range. A commercial would then cost $6K. I think its more than that, but I have no idea (please don't mention Super Bowl rates, not even in the same ballpark) Can the University afford the exposure of 767000 viewers at $6000 a pop, or 12K if Ms. Media Buyer decides she can see the game performing at a 1 rtg.
What's on opposite in this case, has almost no impact as the statistics for the three games are going up and not down! The cumulative number of the three games is over 1million viewers and people say that ESPN Announcers Louisiana-Lafayette'n us to death isn't a big deal? Man, Its a HUGE F'n DEAL with that many Viewers and potentially a larger audience each time the cajuns play on an ESPN platform.
Speaking of exposure you can't afford, didn't I read where ESPN U has or is sending a crew to Lafayette to produce a half hour all access to Ragin Cajun football that airs in November? You guys have no idea what is happening with this school and football program if ESPN U is doing this. You want to showcase to recruit's ....there's your chance. BTW, someone get (I'm in NC) the guys producing the "Lights Out" doc to slip a copy of that bad boy to the ESPN producer making the trip down. CajunVic is priceless. That's today's TV 101 class....Bernard Crocker would be proud.