The CBS/Turner Sports partnership continues to produce some of the best NCAA Tournament numbers in decades, as viewership hit a 20-year high for Friday’s second round action.
CBS, TNT, TBS and TruTV combined to average a 5.0 rating and 7.6 million viewers for coverage of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, according to Nielsen fast-nationals, up 19% in ratings and viewership from last year.
Friday’s numbers were flat in ratings and up slightly in viewership from the previous day (5.0, 7.4M).
This marks the most-viewed opening Friday of the NCAA Tournament since 1991. Thursday’s coverage also hit a 20-year high in viewership.
The first telecast window (12:00-4:39 PM ET) earned a 3.8 rating and 5.185 million viewers, up 41% in ratings and 43% in viewership from last year’s single telecast on CBS (12:10-2:34 PM: 2.7, 3.638M).
Later in the afternoon (2:21-7:03 PM), coverage averaged a 4.7 and 6.566 million, up 47% and 44%, respectively, from last year (2:37-5:30 PM: 3.2, 4.546M).
As was the case Thursday, the increases were smaller during the evening windows. The first evening telecast (6:41-10:05 PM) earned a 5.8 and 9.206 million, up 7% in ratings and 8% in viewership from last year (7:00-10:06 PM: 5.4, 8.558M).
The last telecast of the day (9:08 PM-12:46 AM) earned a 5.9 and 9.278 million, up 16% and 13%, respectively, from last year (10:06 PM-12:43 AM: 5.1, 8.209M).
Ratings for telecasts on each individual network were not immediately available.
Through Friday, the 2010 NCAA Tournament is averaging a combined 4.8 U.S. rating and 7.2 million viewers across CBS, TNT, TBS and TruTV, up 14% and 12%, respectively, from last year.
(Turner Sports)
