Ratings: NCAA Tournament, PGA at Tampa, NASCAR

Through the second round, coverage of the NCAA Tournament is averaging a combined 6.4 overnight rating across CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV — up 8% from last year (5.9), up a tick from 2017 (6.3), and the second-highest mark through the first Sunday since 1991. The high water mark is a 6.7 in 2015.

The two game windows involving Duke both posted historically strong numbers. Sunday’s early evening window grossed an 11.9 across CBS, TBS and TNT — up 35% from last year (8.8), but down 2% from 2017 (12.1). The 11.9 trails only 2017 as the highest for the window since 1990.

The window included Duke-UCF, which had an 8.8 by itself.

Meanwhile, Friday’s first primetime window grossed a 7.7 overnight across CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV, the highest since 1991. That window included Duke’s first round game against North Dakota State, which had a 4.3.

Final round coverage of the PGA Tour at Tampa Bay earned a 1.9 overnight rating on NBC, down 63% from last year, when Tiger Woods finished second (5.1), but up 6% from 2017 (1.8). The 1.9 is the lowest of the season for a final round on broadcast TV.

Woods did not play the tournament this year. In addition, coverage aired opposite the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012, not to mention breaking news coverage.

Saturday’s third round coverage posted a 1.2 overnight, down 64% from last year (3.3), but even with 2017 (3.3).

Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race from Martinsville (Va.) earned a 1.5 overnight rating on FS1, down 29% from 2017, the last time it was run as scheduled (2.1). Last year’s race was postponed to a Monday and had a 0.8 overnight.