How does the NBA fare when going up directly ahead of March Madness coverage?
1997
Sun, 3/16: 12:00 PM: Unknown, NBC: 2.6 rating.
1998
Sun, 3/15: 12:00 PM: UTA/DET or MIA/ORL, NBC: 2.4 rating.
Sun, 3/22: 12:30 PM: ATL/DET or UTA/NY, NBC: 3.4 rating.
1999
Sun, 3/14: 12:00 PM: Regional action, NBC: 2.7 rating.
Sun, 3/21: 12:00 PM: Lakers/Magic, NBC: 5.1 rating.
2000
Sun, 3/19: 12:00 PM: Lakers/Knicks, NBC: 2.6 rating.
Sun, 3/26, 12:30 PM: Regional action, NBC: 2.4 rating.
Sun, 3/26: 6:30 PM: Regional action, NBC: 3.7 rating.
2001
Sun, 3/18, 12:00 PM: Lakers/Magic, NBC: 2.3 rating.
Sun, 3/25, 12:00 PM: Spurs/Heat, NBC: 2.3 rating.
Sun, 3/25, 6:30 PM: Lakers/Kings, NBC: 3.2 rating.
2002
Sun, 3/17, 12:00 PM: Magic/76ers, NBC: 1.5 rating.
Sun, 3/24: 12:00 PM: Celtics/Pistons, NBC: 2.2 rating.
Sun, 3/24: 6:30 PM: Lakers/Kings, NBC: 3.3 rating.
2003
Thu, 3/20, 10:30 PM: Lakers at Kings, TNT: 2.0 cable rating (1.7 national rating).
Sun, 3/23, 1:00 PM: Lakers at Spurs, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2*: 2.4 rating.
Sun, 3/30, 1:30 PM: Mavs at Wolves, ABC: 1.7 rating.
2004
Sun, 3/21, 1:30 PM: Mavs at Nets, ABC: 1.1 rating.
Sun, 3/28, 1:30 PM: Mavs at Magic, ABC: 1.1 rating.
2005
Thu, 3/17, 8:00 PM: Lakers at Heat, TNT; 2.1 cable rating (1.7 national rating).
Sun, 3/20, 3:30 PM: SA/DET or PHX/MEM, ABC: 1.3 rating.
Sun, 3/27, 1:30 PM: Rockets at Spurs, ABC: 1.5 rating.
2006
Sun, 3/19, 1:00 PM: LAL/CLE or DAL/NJ, ABC: 1.7 rating.
Sun, 3/26, 1:00 PM: 76ers at Pacers, ABC: 1.4 rating.
- From 1998 to 2002, NBC averaged a 2.8 rating on the two Sundays per season when NBA games aired opposite NCAA Tournament games on CBS. From 2003 to 2006, ABC averaged a 1.5 rating.
- Overall, since 1998, NBA games on network television (NBC and ABC) have averaged a 2.4 rating opposite the NCAA Tournament.
*Portions of Lakers/Spurs on March 23, 2003, aired on ESPN and ESPN2 due to war coverage.
