Ratings and viewership for the 2012 NCAA Tournament have risen slightly compared to last year.
Entering Sunday’s games, coverage of the NCAA Tournament averaged a combined 5.3 U.S. rating and eight million viewers on CBS, TNT, TBS and TruTV, according to Nielsen fast-nationals — up 4% in ratings and 3% in viewership from the comparable point last year (5.1, 7.8M), and up 15% and 14%, respectively, from the comparable point in 2010, when coverage aired on CBS alone (4.6, 7.0M).
Though up only barely from last year, this marks the highest viewership average through this point of the NCAA Tournament since 1994.
Third round action on Saturday averaged a combined 6.1 U.S. rating and 9.3 million viewers on CBS, TNT and TBS, up 3% in ratings and flat in viewership compared to last year (5.9, 9.3M).
CBS/Turner Sports did not disclose ratings and viewership information for Saturday’s individual telecast windows.
On Friday, second round coverage averaged a combined 5.4 U.S. rating and eight million viewers, up 8% and 7%, respectively, from last year (5.0, 7.5M).
The four telecasts drew ratings of 3.8, 5.2, 6.5 and 6.0. CBS/Turner Sports did not disclose viewership information for Friday’s individual windows.
(Friday/Saturday numbers from Turner Sports)
