CBS continues to see its NCAA Tournament ratings rebound from last year’s levels.
Friday’s Sweet Sixteen doubleheader averaged a 6.5/12 overnight rating on CBS, up 20% from a 5.4/10 overnight for last year’s comparable coverage. One night earlier, Sweet Sixteen coverage averaged a 6.8/12, up 13% from ’08.
Like rival Duke on Thursday night, North Carolina moved the needle the most on Friday. Late game coverage featuring the Tar Heels’ blowout win over Gonzaga drew a 7.4/13 overnight, up a whopping 42% over a 5.2 for last year’s comparable telecast. The 7.4 ties the previous night’s late window coverage, featuring Duke’s loss to Villanova, as the third-highest overnight rating of the NCAA Tournament.
Early window coverage saw a smaller increase, as regional action featuring Louisville/Arizona drew a 5.7/11 overnight rating, up 2% from a 5.6/10 last year.
Overall, the Sweet Sixteen averaged a 6.7 overnight rating on CBS, up 18% from a 5.7 last year. Through Friday, the NCAA Tournament as a whole is averaging a 5.7 overnight, up 10% from a 5.2 through the same point ’08.
Overnight ratings for the Sweet Sixteen.
| Date | Time | Game | Net | Rating | vs. ’08 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu., 3/26/09 | 7:00 PM | Pittsburgh/Xavier or Connecticut/Purdue | CBS |
6.2/11
|
3%
|
| Thu., 3/26/09 | 9:45 PM | Villanova/Duke or Missouri/Memphis | CBS |
7.4/13
|
25%
|
| Fri., 3/27/09 | 7:00 PM | Louisville/Arizona or Oklahoma/Syracuse | CBS |
5.7/11
|
2%
|
| Fri., 3/27/09 | 9:30 PM | North Carolina/Gonzaga or Michigan State/Kansas | CBS |
7.4/13
|
42%
|
| Average rating for Sweet Sixteen |
6.7
|
18%
|
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