UNC-Duke ratings sank double-digits opposite strong NBA competition Saturday night, but still remained strong.
Saturday’s North Carolina-Duke college basketball game scored a 2.0 rating and 3.4 million viewers on ESPN, down 17% in ratings and 19% in viewership from last year (2.4, 4.2M). Figures include TV and streaming viewership.
Despite the decline, it was the most-watched college basketball game of the season — topping the previous high of 3.3 million for Michigan State-Ohio State in January. Duke has played in three of the five most-watched games.
The 2.0 rating is tied as the second-highest of the season, behind MSU-OSU (2.1). Duke has played in three of the six highest rated games.
In addition to the season-highs, Saturday’s game was also the second-most watched between the rivals since 2015 (seven telecasts).
Viewership would almost certainly have been higher if not for tough NBA competition. ABC’s Celtics-Rockets NBA Saturday Primetime game increased 91% from last year to 3.2 million. Duke-UNC won the head-to-head by just 5%, compared to a 148% win last year (4.2M to 1.7M).
For the weekend, UNC-Duke ranked third in viewership behind the final round of the PGA WGC-Mexico Championship (3.9M) and NASCAR from Las Vegas (4.7M). It took top honors in adults 18-49, its 1.1 rating edging the second-place Celtics-Rockets game (1.0).
UNC-Duke Ratings, Past Decade
| Year | GAME 1 | GAME 2 | ACC TOURN | |||
| Rtg. | Vwrs. | Rtg. | Vwrs. | Rtg. | Vwrs. | |
| 2018 | 1.5 | 2.43M | 2.0 | 3.37M | — | — |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1.8 | 3.08M | 2.4 | 4.16M | 1.8 | 2.97M |
| 2016 | 1.8 | 2.86M | 1.9 | 3.17M | — | — |
| 2015 | 2.6 | 4.14M | 2.6 | 4.24M | — | — |
| 2014 | 1.5 | 2.29M | 2.1 | 3.50M | — | — |
| 2013 | 1.6 | 2.35M | 1.7 | 2.79M | — | — |
| 2012 | 2.2 | 3.12M | 2.7 | 4.25M | — | — |
| 2011 | 1.5 | 2.37M | 2.7 | 4.61M | 1.4 | 2.22M |
| 2010 | 1.4 | 2.27M | 1.6 | 2.50M | — | — |
| 2009 | 2.1 | 3.27M | 2.9 | 4.63M | — | — |
| 2008 | 1.8 | 2.63M | 3.4 | 5.61M | — | — |
[Wknd. numbers from ShowBuzz Daily 3.6]
