Overnight ratings dropped slightly for the first day of the NCAA Tournament.
Coverage of the NCAA Tournament averaged a 4.6 overnight rating on CBS Thursday, down a tick from a 4.7 last year, but up 7% from a 4.3 in ’08. The 4.6 average is the second-lowest for the first day of the NCAA Tournament over the past six years.
CBS drew a 3.1 overnight rating for its first telecast of the day, even with both last year and 2008.
Later in the day, the net’s second telecast drew a 3.5 overnight, off 5% from last year (3.7), but up 6% from 2008 (3.3).
Thursday’s first primetime window drew a 6.0, down a tick from last year (6.1), but up 7% from 2008 (5.6).
The final window of the day drew a 6.1 overnight, up 7% from last year and up 17% from 2008.
Overall, the NCAA Tournament helped CBS win the night in primetime in total viewers and the adults 18-49 demographic.
