Record-low Selection Show ratings are nothing new — and steep declines were expected given the move from CBS to TBS — but this year’s overnights were still surprisingly low.
The NCAA Tournament Selection Show earned a 1.6 overnight rating on TBS Sunday, down 52% from last year (3.3), down 57% from 2016 (3.7), and the lowest overnight in the history of the show.
Overnights have now declined in five straight years, though this year’s drop was significantly steeper than usual.
According to Sports Business Daily, overnights peaked at a 2.3 from 6:15-6:30 PM ET, with the first 45 minutes of the two-hour show averaging a 2.2.
On Selection Sunday, the Selection Show ranked just fourth among all sports telecasts behind Tiger Woods‘ near-victory at the PGA Tampa Bay Championship (5.1), NASCAR from Phoenix (2.7) and the NBA on ABC (1.8).
The move from CBS to TBS was just one factor in this year’s declines. With Woods in contention, golf was unusually onerous competition. The absence of the Big Ten Tournament — moved up a week this year so it could take place at Madison Square Garden — left the less popular American Athletic final as the last game leading into the Selection Show. Finally, the two-hour window simply is too long for a show that once comfortably fit into a half-hour.
Selection Show Ratings in Metered Markets, 1990-Present
[Wknd. numbers via Sports Business Daily 3.12]
