With games now airing exclusively on CBS, ratings for the NCAA Tournament fell back to last year’s levels over the weekend.
CBS averaged a 7.6 rating and 12.6 million viewers for Sunday’s NCAA Tournament Elite Eight coverage, according to Nielsen fast-nationals, even in ratings and up 6% in viewership from the network’s coverage last year (7.6, 11.9M).
One day earlier, Saturday’s Elite Eight games averaged a 6.2 and 9.9 million viewers, also flat in ratings compared to last year.
Though the ratings were flat, viewership totals on both days were the highest since 2005.
Ratings for individual Elite Eight games (Butler/Florida, Connecticut/Arizona, VCU/Kansas and Kentucky/North Carolina) were not immediately available.
Through the Elite Eight, the 2011 NCAA Tournament has averaged a 6.0 U.S. rating and 9.4 million viewers across CBS, TNT, TBS and TruTV, up 11% in ratings and viewership from last year’s coverage on CBS alone (5.4, 8.5M).
This marks the highest rated, most-viewed NCAA Tournament through the Elite Eight since 2005.
(Turner Sports)
