Ratings were mixed for the Saturday’s NCAA Final Four on CBS, though the average numbers tied a six-year high.
CBS earned a 9.5 rating and 16.7 million viewers for Connecticut’s win over Kentucky on Saturday, according to Nielsen fast-nationals, up 3% in ratings and 6% in viewership from last year (DUKE/WVU: 9.2, 15.823M), and up 12% and 16%, respectively, from 2009 (UNC/VILL: 8.5, 14.454M).
Connecticut/Kentucky ranks as the highest rated, most-viewed National Semifinal game since 2005.
Somewhat surprisingly, the game does not rank as the highest rated NCAA Tournament telecast window this season. That honor goes to evening coverage on March 20, which earned a combined 9.9 rating across CBS, TNT and TBS.
Earlier in the night, Butler’s victory over VCU drew an 8.3 and 14.2 million viewers, down 4% in ratings and 2% in viewership from last year (BUT/MSU: 8.6, 14.460M), but up 6% and 13%, respectively, from 2009 (MSU/CONN: 7.8, 12.583M).
Despite the decline, Butler/VCU ranks as the second-most viewed early National Semifinal of the past five seasons.
(For National Semifinal ratings from 1997-2010, check the Final Four Saturday Numbers Game).
Overall, Saturday’s games averaged an 8.9 and 15.4 million viewers on CBS, both the highest since 2005 (the 8.9 rating is tied as the best since ’05).
Entering Monday’s National Championship Game, the 2011 NCAA Tournament has averaged a combined 6.2 rating and 9.9 million viewers across CBS, TNT, TBS and TruTV, up 9% in ratings and 10% in viewership from last year’s coverage on CBS alone (5.7, 9.0M).
This marks the highest rated, most-viewed NCAA Tournament entering the title game since 2005 (6.6, 10.2M).
(Turner Sports)
