2013 NCAA Tournament Viewership Highest in 20 Years

Thanks to the fine people at the CBS Sports and Turner Sports PR departments, we learn that viewership for the 2013 NCAA Tournament is up 8% from 2012. Even with the amount of blowouts we’ve seen, interest in the tournament has increased over last year.

According to Nielsen, the NCAA Tournament is averaging 9 million viewers through Thursday’s Regional Semifinals compared to 8.3 million last year.

And the tournament is averaging a 5.9 rating and a 12 share as compared to 5.5/12 in 2012.

Here’s the joint announcement.

NCAA Tournament2013 NCAA® Division I Men’s Basketball Championship on TBS, CBS, TNT and truTv is Most Watched in 20 Years, Averaging 9.0 Million Total Viewers

NCAA Tournament Viewership Up 8% and Ratings Up 7% vs. 2012

CBS Sports and Turner Sports’ exclusive coverage of the 2013 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV is averaging 9.0 million total viewers to date, up 8% from last year’s 8.3 million viewers, and is the highest average for the NCAA Tournament through the Thursday Regional Semifinals in 20 years (10.2 million; 1993).

The 2013 NCAA Tournament to date, is averaging a national HH rating/share of 5.9/12, up 7% from last year’s 5.5/12, and is the highest-to-date rating in 15 years (6.1/14; 1998).

Thursday night’s coverage across CBS and TBS averaged 10.4 million viewers, up 4% from last year’s 10.0 million viewers; and earned a Fast National HH rating/share of a 6.7/12, up 3% from last year’s 6.5/12. 

* * * * *

Source: Nielsen Media Research, based on Fast National Data, Live +SD data stream. 3/19/13 to 3/28/13 vs. 03/13/12 to 03/22/12.   2013, 2012 and 2011 averages based on weighted average of four 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 all.

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013. He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television. Fang celebrates the three Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

Quantcast