This from CBS/Turner. The NCAA Tournament consortium says Saturday’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four averaged a 9.0 rating with a 17 share which is up slightly from last year’s 8.9/17.
CBS says this is the highest overnight rating since 2005. And the single game ratings for Kentucky-Louisville and Kansas-Ohio State were also up slightly from last year’s contests.
As for overall viewership, Jenna Busch at zap2it says the numbers for the Primetime portion of the Final Four averaged just under 15 million. If that is the case, Marc Berman at TV Insights says that number would be lower than last year’s figures.
We have the official press release from CBS/Turner.
RATINGS FOR FINAL FOUR ON CBS BEST SINCE 2005
CBS Sports and Turner Sports’ exclusive coverage of the 2012 Final Four® on Saturday, March 31 earned an average fast national household rating/share of 9.0/17, which is the highest-rated Final Four since 2005 (10.5/19; Illinois-Louisville and North Carolina-Michigan State). The 9.0/17is up 1% from last year’s 8.9/17 (Butler-VCU and Connecticut-Kentucky).
CBS Sports and Turner Sports’ exclusive coverage of the 2012 Final Four® on Saturday, March 31 earned an average fast national household rating/share of 9.0/17, which is the highest-rated Final Four since 2005 (10.5/19; Illinois-Louisville and North Carolina-Michigan State). The 9.0/17 is up 1% from last year’s 8.9/17 (Butler-VCU and Connecticut-Kentucky).
The first game, Kentucky beating Louisville, earned an average household rating/share of 8.4/17. The 8.4/17 rating is up 1% from last year’s 8.3/17 (Butler-VCU).
The second game featuring Kansas’ victory over Ohio State delivered a 9.6/17, up 1% from last year’s 9.5/17 (Connecticut-Kentucky). The 9.6/17 is the best rating in the window since a 10.9/19 in 2005 (North Carolina-Michigan State).
That’s all.