While Duke/North Carolina took center stage, Kentucky delivered solid numbers on CBS.
The Florida/Kentucky college basketball game drew a 1.7 final rating and 2.7 million viewers on CBS last Saturday afternoon, up 42% in ratings and 53% in viewership from Connecticut/Louisville last year (1.2, 1.8M), and the weekend’s top such game outside of Duke/North Carolina (2.6, 4.2M).
The Wildcats’ win, which clinched an undefeated regular season, was the only game on CBS last weekend to have an increase in ratings and/or viewership (six telecasts).
Syracuse/N.C. State drew a 0.8 and 1.2 million earlier in the day, down 39% in ratings and 33% in viewership from Kentucky/Florida last year (1.3, 1.8M). Stanford/Arizona rounded out the tripleheader with a 0.9 and 1.3 million, down a tick and 14%, respectively, from last year’s Arizona/Oregon game (1.0, 1.5M).
On Sunday, Wisconsin/Ohio State drew a 1.3 and 2.0 million — down 24% in ratings and 18% in viewership from Michigan State/Ohio State last year (1.7, 2.5M). The Northern Iowa/Illinois State Missouri Valley Championship drew a 0.8 (-20%) and 1.2 million (-17%) earlier in the day, and Memphis/Cincinnati started things off with a 0.7 (-30%) and 928,000 (-35%).
In other action, ESPN drew a 1.3 and 2.2 million for Virginia/Louisville Saturday evening — flat in ratings and up 6% in viewership from Indiana/Michigan last year (1.3, 2.1M), and the weekend’s third-most watched game behind Duke/UNC and Florida/Kentucky.
On FOX, St. John’s/Villanova drew a 0.3 and 504,000, and Seton Hall/Georgetown a mere 0.3 and 470,000.
(Wknd. numbers via Sports Business Daily)
