Duke continues to deliver in the ratings.
Sunday’s Duke-UCF NCAA Tournament second round game scored a 7.8 rating and 12.88 million viewers on CBS, up 37% in ratings and viewership from last year (Texas A&M-North Carolina: 5.7, 9.38M) and up 20% and 18% respectively from 2017 (Michigan State-Kansas: 6.45, 10.96M).
The Blue Devils’ narrow win ranks as the highest rated and most-watched opening weekend NCAA Tournament game under the current television format (dates back to 2011). The previous highs were a 7.5 and 12.13 million for Kentucky-Wichita State in 2014.
Outside of the Final Four, Duke-UCF delivered the eighth-largest tournament audience under the current format, behind seven Elite Eight games.
Including concurrent games on TNT and TBS, the full telecast window grossed a 10.4 and 17.32 million — up 31% in ratings and 32% in viewership from last year (7.9, 13.16M), but down 4% and 7% respectively from 2017 (10.8, 18.56M). Virginia Tech-Liberty had a 1.6 (+44%) and 2.75 million (+47%) on TBS, while Texas Tech-Buffalo drew a 1.0 (-8%) and 1.70 million (-11%) on TNT.
Sunday’s nightcap grossed a 4.8 (-19%) and 8.12 million (-21%) on TBS, TNT and TruTV. Houston-Ohio State was the top draw with a 2.1 (+2%) and 3.57 million (+5%) on TNT, followed by Oregon-UC Irvine at a 1.6 (+19%) and 2.70 million (+21%) on TBS.
Virginia-Oklahoma dragged the ratings down with a 1.1 and 1.86 million on TruTV, down 56% and 60% respectively from Kansas State’s win over #16 UMBC last year (2.5, 4.60M).
As for the daytime windows, CBS drew a 5.6 and 8.92 million for North Carolina-Washington — up 5% in ratings and 4% in viewership from last year (Syracuse-Michigan State: 5.3, 8.60M), but down 11% and 13% respectively from 2017 (Kentucky-Wichita State: 6.3, 10.30M). Ratings and viewership increased despite breaking political news occurring midway through the game.
Tennessee-Iowa started the day off with a 4.25 (+17%) and 6.56 million (+15%).
Shifting to Saturday, Kentucky-Wofford was the top draw with a 5.6 and 8.96 million, up 36% in both measures from Duke’s rout of Rhode Island last year (4.1, 6.58M), but down 5% and 4% respectively from 2017 (Wisconsin-Villanova: 5.9, 9.38M).
LSU’s thrilling win over Maryland had a 3.5 (+13%) and 5.28 million (+12%) earlier in the day.
In primetime, CBS, TNT and TBS grossed an 8.2 (+7%) and 13.66 million (+5%) for the early window. Michigan-Florida was the top draw at a 5.4 (+15%) and 8.88 million (+15%) on CBS, followed by Gonzaga-Baylor at a 1.45 (+5%) and 2.51 million (+3%) on TBS and FSU-Murray State at a 1.4 (-16%) and 2.27 million (-20%) on TNT.
The late window had a 7.9 (flat) and 13.38 million (-1%). Michigan State-Minnesota led the way with a 3.9 (-5%) and 6.49 million (-5%) on CBS, followed by Auburn-Kansas at a 2.7 (+24%) and 4.62 million (+21%) on TBS, and Purdue-Villanova at a 1.3 (-18%) and 2.27 million (-20%) on TNT.
Per Sports Business Daily reporter Austin Karp, the NCAA Tournament is now averaging 9.1 million TV viewers per window across CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV — up 6% from last year (8.5M), but down 2% from 2017 (9.3M). With streaming included, the tournament is averaging 9.5 million (+7%).
[Numbers from Nielsen via ShowBuzz Daily 3.26, Austin Karp/Twitter 3.26]
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