Ratings for every game of the NCAA Tournament since 2004. Ratings for the 2005 and 2006 play-in games were unavailable, as were the ratings for several games of the 2008 tournament.
CBS averaged a 5.7 rating for the 2009 NCAA Tournament, up 2% from 2008, but the third-lowest average ever for the event. Only the 2009, 2008 and 2003 NCAA Tournaments have averaged less than a 6.0 rating.
The North Carolina/Michigan St. National Championship Game drew a 10.8 rating, a record low.
Ratings For Each Game of the NCAA Tournament since ’04
| Round | Window | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Play-in | Tue. (Eve) |
0.8
|
1.0
|
0.8
|
—
|
—
|
1.0
|
| First Round | Thu. (Day #1) |
2.8
|
—
|
3.2
|
3.4
|
3.3
|
3.3
|
| Thu. (Day #2) |
3.4
|
—
|
3.3
|
3.9
|
3.7
|
3.7
|
|
| Thu. (Eve #1) |
5.7
|
5.2
|
5.9
|
5.4
|
5.7
|
6.2
|
|
| Thu. (Eve #2) |
5.0
|
5.1
|
5.6
|
6.4
|
6.3
|
6.2
|
|
| Fri. (Day #1) |
3.0
|
—
|
3.5
|
3.8
|
3.6
|
3.5
|
|
| Fri. (Day #2) |
3.5
|
—
|
4.2
|
4.1
|
4.0
|
4.3
|
|
| Fri. (Eve #1) |
4.5
|
5.0
|
5.5
|
5.6
|
5.8
|
5.4
|
|
| Fri. (Eve #2) |
5.6
|
5.1 |
5.8
|
6.4
|
6.0
|
5.7
|
|
| Second Round | Sat. (Day #1) |
3.9
|
—
|
5.4
|
5.0
|
5.4
|
4.8
|
| Sat. (Day #2) |
5.0
|
6.0
|
6.3
|
5.5
|
6.0
|
6.2
|
|
| Sat. (Day #3) |
6.7
|
6.0 |
7.1
|
6.8
|
6.9
|
7.7
|
|
| Sat. (Eve) |
6.5
|
5.5
|
6.5
|
6.6
|
7.2
|
6.4
|
|
| Sun. (Day #1) |
3.8
|
—
|
4.7
|
4.4
|
4.5
|
4.2
|
|
| Sun. (Day #2) |
5.8
|
—
|
6.6
|
7.0
|
6.9
|
6.4
|
|
| Sun. (Day #3) |
7.3
|
6.5
|
7.2
|
7.7
|
8.2
|
8.3
|
|
| Sweet Sixteen | Thu. (Eve #1) |
5.6
|
5.9
|
6.0
|
7.6
|
6.9
|
6.2
|
| Thu. (Eve #2) |
6.7
|
5.5
|
6.6
|
7.1
|
6.9
|
7.2
|
|
| Fri. (Eve #1) |
5.5
|
5.5
|
5.4
|
6.2
|
7.3
|
5.7
|
|
| Fri. (Eve #2) |
6.9
|
5.0
|
6.3
|
6.5
|
7.6
|
6.3
|
|
| Elite Eight | Sat. (Day) |
5.4
|
5.2
|
5.8
|
6.1
|
6.9
|
5.1
|
| Sat. (Eve) |
6.6
|
6.5
|
6.8
|
6.9
|
8.7
|
7.3
|
|
| Sun. (Day #1) |
5.2
|
5.1
|
5.5
|
6.1
|
6.7
|
5.2
|
|
| Sun. (Day #2) |
6.8
|
8.7
|
7.3
|
7.8
|
10.4
|
8.6
|
|
| Final Four | Sat. (Eve #1) |
7.8
|
7.2
|
8.4
|
9.1
|
10.0
|
8.3
|
| Sat. (Eve #2) |
8.5
|
8.8
|
8.9
|
8.2
|
10.9
|
10.5
|
|
| National Champ. Game | Mon. (Eve) |
10.8
|
12.1
|
12.2
|
11.2
|
15.0
|
11.0
|
