The four games on four networks in one window is working for CBS/Turner. Thursday’s action saw a 5.3 rating and 7.7 million viewers on CBS/TBS/TNT and truTV. That’s up from a 5.0 and 7.4 million viewers last year.
Here’s the press release from CBS/Turner Sports.
2012 NCAA® Division I Men’s Basketball Championship on TBS, CBS, TNT and truTv Delivers 5.3 US HH Rating and 7.7 Million Total Viewers
Most-Watched First Thursday since 1991
Thursday’s Coverage Up 6% in Households; 4% in Total ViewersCBS Sports and Turner Sports’ exclusive second-round coverage of the 2012 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV on Thursday combined to deliver a 5.3 U.S. HH rating (+6% vs. 2011) and 7.7 million total viewers (+4% vs. 2011), according to Nielsen Fast Nationals.
Last night’s coverage across the four networks delivered the highest-rated and most-viewed Thursday of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship since 1991, when the tournament expanded to four telecast windows.
The second telecast window of the day combined to earn a 4.8 U.S. HH rating (+9% vs. last year) and 6,723,000 total viewers (+5% from last year).
The third telecast window of the day combined to earn a 6.4 U.S. HH rating (+10% vs. last year) and 9,664,000 total viewers (+8% from last year).
The final window combined to earn a 6.4 U.S. HH rating (+8% vs. last year) and 9,900,000 total viewers (+8% from last year).
Source: Nielsen Media Research, based on Fast National Data, Live +SD data stream. 3/13-3/17/12 vs 3-15-3/17/11. 2011 and 2012 averages based on weighted average of 4 telecast gross across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. Historical audiences, CBS 1991 through 2005 based on Live data. 2006 through 2012 based on Live + SD. 2003 based on CBS / ESPN average of First Round.
That’s it.
