The first night of the Sweet 16 produced mixed results on CBS and TBS.
Coverage of the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen averaged a combined 11.2 million viewers across CBS and TBS, up 16% from last year (9.6M) but down 16% respectively from 2015 (13.2M). It was the third-most watched opening night of the Sweet Sixteen since 1993, behind 2015 and 2011 (12.0M).
The multi-year high was driven by a strong performance in the early window, which combined for 12.1 million — up 43% from last year (8.4M) though down 13% from 2015 (13.8M). Oregon-Michigan led the way with a 4.4 rating (+22%) and 7.1 million viewers (+27%) on CBS, while Gonzaga-West Virginia had a 3.0 (+66%) and 4.9 million (+75%) on TBS.
The late window actually underperformed with a combined 10.2 million — down 6% from last year (10.8M), down 19% from 2015 (12.6M), and the smallest audience in the window in at least five years. Kansas-Purdue drew a 4.1 (-2%) and 6.6 million (-2%) on CBS and Xavier-Arizona a 2.2 (-12%) and 3.6 million on TBS (-11%).
Through Thursday, the NCAA Tournament is averaging a combined 9.5 million viewers on CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV — up 10% from last year (8.6M) and just behind 2015 (also 9.5M) as the most-watched since 1993.
(Thu. numbers from Turner Sports via Ken Fang, Programming Insider 3.24)
