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No. 1 Iowa vs. No. 2 Penn State Wrestling sets Big Ten Network viewership record

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by No. 1 Iowa vs. No. 2 Penn State Wrestling sets Big Ten Network viewership record

Image from the Iowa vs. Penn State dual meet courtesy of the University of Iowa.

Most-watched in BTN history and highest-rated college sporting event across all networks


CHICAGO, Ill. – On Jan. 31, No. 1 Iowa vs. No. 2 Penn State became the most-watched wrestling telecast in BTN history as well as the day’s highest-rated college sporting event across all networks. The Big Ten dual averaged 342,955 viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research, which eclipsed the Ohio State vs. Penn State meet in 2018 (309,265 viewers) by +11%.


The Hawkeyes and Nittany Lions broadcast capped a run of three consecutive nights in which BTN featured the highest-rated college sporting event across all television networks. On Wednesday night, Indiana vs. Penn State men’s basketball averaged 325,205 viewers and earned the No. 1 distinction. On Thursday, Iowa vs. Maryland men’s basketball averaged 455,490 viewers en route to the top spot.


Digital consumption from the event featured an additional 802,574 minutes of streaming via the FOX Sports app and 2.2M minutes watched for social content across Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.


Through 12 broadcasts, BTN’s average audience for wrestling telecasts this season is 116,043 viewers, an increase of +67% from the 2018-19 season.


BTN’s complete wrestling schedule for this weekend is below (all times ET):

Date

Home Team

Away Team

TV

Time (ET)

Feb. 7

No. 2 Penn State

at

No. 4 Wisconsin

BTN

9:00 PM

Feb. 7

No. 11 Nebraska

at

No. 7 Purdue

BTN+

7:00 PM

Feb. 7

Illinois

at

Rutgers

BTN+

7:00 PM

Feb. 7

Michigan State

at

No. 8 Northwestern

BTN+

8:00 PM

Feb. 8

No. 1 Iowa

at

No. 18 Michigan

BTN

8:00 PM

Feb. 9

No. 2 Penn State

at

No. 6 Minnesota

BTN

2:00 PM

Feb. 9

No. 11 Nebraska

at

Indiana

BTN+

1:00 PM

Feb. 9

No. 8 Northwestern

at

No. 3 Ohio State

BTN+

2:00 PM

Feb. 9

Illinois

at

Maryland

BTN+

2:00 PM

Feb. 9

Michigan State

at

No. 4 Wisconsin

BTN+

4:00 PM


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