Entering Monday’s National Championship Game, the 2013 NCAA Tournament remains ahead of last year’s pace.
CBS and Turner Sports have averaged a combined 6.4 rating and 10.2 million viewers for coverage of the 2013 NCAA Tournament, up 8% in ratings and 10% in viewership from last year (5.9, 9.2M), and up 3% in both measures from 2011 (6.2, 9.9M). The 2013 tournament ranks as the highest rated and most-viewed through the national semifinals since 2005 (6.6, 10.2M).
On Saturday, the Syracuse/Michigan game drew a 10.2 rating and 17.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen-fast nationals — up 6% in ratings and 3% in viewership from Kansas/Ohio State last year (9.6, 16.6M), and up 7% and 3%, respectively, from Connecticut/Kentucky in 2011 (9.5, 16.7M).
Excluding the national championship game, Syracuse/Michigan ranks as the highest rated and most-viewed Final Four game since North Carolina/Michigan State in 2005 (10.9, 17.5M).
The early Wichita State/Louisville game earned an 8.7 and 14.5 million viewers, up 4% in ratings and viewership from Kentucky/Louisville last year (8.4, 13.9M), and up 5% and 2%, respectively, from Butler/VCU in 2011 (8.3, 14.2M).
Most-Viewed Games of the 2013 NCAA Tournament
Through Saturday’s games
| Date | Time | Winner | Loser | Round | Net |
Rating
|
Viewers
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat., 4/6/13 | 8:49 PM | Michigan | Syracuse | Final Four | CBS |
10.2
|
17.1M
|
| Sun., 3/31/13 | 4:55 PM | Louisville | Duke | Elite Eight | CBS |
8.8
|
15.6M
|
| Sat., 4/6/13 | 6:00 PM | Louisville | Wichita St. | Final Four | CBS |
8.7
|
14.5M
|
| Sat., 3/30/13 | 7:00 PM | Wichita St. | Ohio State | Elite Eight | CBS |
6.8
|
11.3M
|
| Sun., 3/24/13 |
5:18 PM
|
Kansas | UNC | Third Rd. | CBS |
7.0
|
11.2M
|
(Saturday’s numbers from CBS/Turner Sports)
