The NCAA Tournament was not able to generate a fourth record-setting day on CBS and Turner Sports, but Sunday’s overnights were still strong.
Second round of the NCAA Tournament averaged a combined 7.3* overnight rating on CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV Sunday, up slightly from an approximate 7.2 last year, but below the record 7.6 the networks averaged in 2013.
The early primetime window led the way with a 10.7 overnight on CBS, TBS and TNT, even with last year but down 9% from 2013 (11.8). The featured game of the window, Kansas/Wichita State on CBS, drew a 6.9 — down 8% from Iowa State/North Carolina last year (7.5) and down 6% from Kansas/North Carolina in 2013 (7.3).
Later in the evening, coverage on TBS, TNT and TruTV drew a 6.9 overnight — up a third from last year (5.2) and up 6% from 2013 (6.5).
Shifting to the afternoon, CBS drew a 6.4 for Duke/San Diego State — down 19% from Kentucky/Wichita State last year (7.9) and down 11% from Indiana/Temple in 2013 (7.2). Michigan State/Virginia started things off with a 5.2, up 6% from Stanford/Kansas last year (4.9) but down 4% from Ohio State/Iowa State in 2013 (5.4).
The NCAA Tournament has averaged a combined 6.7 overnight rating on CBS, and Turner Sports through Sunday, up 6% from last year and 2013 (6.3 both years), and the highest average at this point of the tournament since the current scheduling format began in 1991.
* SMW calculation based on numbers obtained from ShowBuzz Daily. CBS and Turner Sports did not disclose overnights for Sunday’s coverage.
(Wknd. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily, CBS/Turner Sports)
