Fueled by a six overtime epic, viewership rose sharply for the Big East Tournament on ESPN.
ESPN averaged a 1.2 U.S. rating and 1.8 million viewers for its coverage of the 2009 Big East Tournament, up 38% and 52% respectively from last year’s 0.8 and 1.2 million. The 1.8 million viewers is the most for the Big East tournament since at least 1990.
The most viewed game of the tournament was, unsurprisingly, the championship game between Syracuse and Louisville. Louisville’s victory drew a 2.4 U.S. rating and 3.8 million viewers Saturday night, up 41% and 60% respectively from a 1.7 and 2.4 million for last year’s game between Pittsburgh and Georgetown. The 3.8 million viewers is the most for a Big East telecast on ESPN since at least 1990.
The second most-viewed game was a semifinal between Syracuse and West Virginia, which drew 2.8 million viewers on Friday night. That came one night after Syracuse won a six overtime battle against Connecticut, which drew 2.6 million viewers.
Overall, the three aforementioned matchups each drew more viewers than the most viewed Big East tournament game last year.
Final ratings for the Big East Championship Game since ’02.
| Year | Date | Game | Net | U.S. rtg | Cov. Rtg |
| 2009 | Sat., 3/14/09 | Louisville/Syracuse | ESPN | 2.4 | 2.8 |
| 2008 | Sat., 3/15/08 | Pittsburgh/Georgetown | ESPN | 1.7 | 1.9 |
| 2007 | Sat., 3/10/07 | Pittsburgh/Georgetown | ESPN | 1.5 | 1.8 |
| 2006 | Sat., 3/11/06 | Syracuse/Pittsburgh | ESPN | 2.1 | 2.6 |
| 2005 | Sat., 3/12/05 | West Virginia/Syracuse | ESPN | 1.4 | 1.8 |
| 2004 | Sat., 3/13/04 | Connecticut/Pittsburgh | ESPN | 1.6 | 2.0 |
| 2003 | Sat., 3/15/03 | Pittsburgh/Connecticut | ESPN | 1.3 | 1.6 |
| 2002 | Sat., 3/9/02 | Connecticut/Pittsburgh | ESPN | 1.4 | 1.8 |
