Sunday’s top NCAA Tournament telecast window scored nearly 16 million viewers across CBS, TNT and TBS, the highlight of another strong day of coverage on CBS and Turner Sports.
CBS, TNT, TBS and TruTV combined to average a 6.6 U.S. rating and 10.5 million viewers for Sunday’s third round coverage of the NCAA Tournament, according to Nielsen fast-nationals, up 16% in ratings and 18% in viewership from last year’s coverage on CBS (5.7, 8.9M).
The 6.6 rating is tied as the highest for the opening Sunday of the NCAA Tournament since 2000 (7.2).
In the first window of the day (12:00-2:14 PM ET), CBS earned a 4.2 and 6.361 million viewers for North Carolina’s win over Washington, up 17% in ratings and 18% in viewership from Syracuse/Gonzaga last year (12:00-2:14 PM: 3.6, 5.408M).
Later in the afternoon (2:45-5:00 PM), Duke/Michigan drew a 6.3 and 9.695 million viewers, flat in ratings and actually down 1% in viewership from four regional contests last year (2:14-5:00 PM: 6.3, 9.776M).
The numbers increased dramatically for the first evening window (5:00-9:15 PM), as CBS, TNT and TBS combined for a whopping 9.9 and 15.886 million viewers — up 46% in ratings and viewership from last year’s comparable three games on CBS (5:00-7:50 PM: 6.8, 10.889M)
For some perspective, the window drew more viewers than all-but-one NCAA Tournament game last year, the Duke/Butler National Championship Game (23.994M).
Additionally, the telecast drew more viewers than every game of last year’s World Series. Of course, Sunday’s telecast included multiple concurrent games on multiple networks, while World Series telecasts featured a single game on a single network.
In the nightcap (7:30 PM-12:00 AM), TBS, TNT and TruTV combined for a 6.0 and 10.031 million viewers. There was no comparable window last year. While those numbers may seem fairly average compared to other NCAA Tournament windows this year, keep in mind this window aired entirely on cable.
Through Sunday, the 2011 NCAA Tournament is averaging a combined 5.5 rating and 8.4 million viewers across CBS and Turner Sports, up 15% and 14%, respectively, from last year (4.8, 8.4M).
(Turner Sports)
