An outrageous blowout resulted in the smallest Final Four audience in 13 years.
Villanova/Oklahoma in the NCAA Tournament Final Four combined for 10.5 million viewers on TBS, TNT and TruTV Saturday night, down 31% from Duke/Michigan State last year (15.3M) and down 10% from Connecticut/Florida in 2014 (11.7M). Ratings were not immediately available.
The Wildcats’ 44-point win, the largest blowout in the history of the Final Four, ranks as the least-watched national semifinal since Kansas/Marquette in 2003 (9.9M). As has been previously noted, the 2003 numbers were anomalously low due to coverage of the Iraq War.
Compared to other major sports, no World Series game has had as small an audience since Giants/Tigers in 2012, the least-watched Fall Classic ever. No NBA Finals game has had as small an audience since Spurs/Cavaliers in 2007, which also set a record-low.
Paired with the 43% decline for North Carolina/Syracuse later in the night, Saturday’s Final Four viewership had declines comparable to the College Football Playoff semifinals — which fell by 45% (Clemson/Oklahoma) and 34% (Alabama/Michigan State). Those games had the excuse of poor scheduling on New Year’s Eve.
The downturn in Final Four viewership follows across-the-board declines for the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight. Averages for the full NCAA Tournament entering the title game were not immediately available, but viewership is likely to hit a multi-year low.
(Sat. numbers via Sports Business Daily)
