Though the NCAA Tournament got off to a strong start, last weekend’s Selection Show hit a record-low. In other news, the Mountain West and Atlantic-10 title games were the top mid-major draws during Championship Week, and the Christian Laettner 30 For 30 documentary hit a multi-year high.
Record-Low Rating For NCAA Selection Show
- The NCAA Tournament Selection Show drew a 3.5 final rating and 5.5 million viewers on CBS last Sunday, down 15% in ratings and 19% in viewership from last year (4.1, 6.8M) and the lowest rated Selection Show ever on CBS. The previous low was a 3.6 in 2012, and the low before that was a 4.0 in 2011 and 2008. Keep in mind the telecast overlapped with NASCAR Sprint Cup racing on FOX, which earned a 4.1 and 7.0 million.
Mountain West Tops Non-Power 5 Tournament Slate
- Last Saturday’s San Diego State/Wyoming Mountain West Tournament championship game drew a 1.1 final rating and 1.6 million viewers on CBS, down a tick in ratings and 15% in viewership from New Mexico/San Diego State last year (1.2, 1.9M), but the most-watched Championship Week game outside of the Power 5 conferences. On Sunday, the VCU/Dayton Atlantic-10 title game drew a 1.1 and 1.6 million — flat and up 4%, respectively, from St. Joseph’s/VCU last year (1.1, 1.5M), and the second-largest audience for a non-Power 5 tournament.
Laettner 30 For 30 Doc Most-Watched Since 2012
- The ESPN 30 For 30 documentary I Hate Christian Laettner drew a 1.5 final rating and 2.3 million viewers last Sunday, up 50% in ratings and 59% in viewership from Requiem For the Big East last year (1.0, 1.5M), up 36% and 45%, respectively, from Survive and Advance in 2013 (1.1, 1.6M), and the network’s most-watched Selection Sunday documentary premiere since The Fab Five in 2011 (1.8, 2.7M). The telecast drew the largest audience for any 30 For 30 premiere since You Don’t Know Bo in 2012, and according to Sports Business Daily, ranks as the sixth-most watched overall (dates back to 2009).
(Wknd. numbers via Sports Business Daily)
