CBS/Turner Deliver Most Viewers to 1st Thursday of NCAA Tournament Since 1991

This from CBS/Turner Sports. The final ratings are in for the first Thursday of the 2013 NCAA Tournament and they are good. This CBS/TBS/TNT/truTV combination combined for an overall 5.5 household rating with a 12 share. That is up 4% from 2012 and it’s the highest rating dating back to 1994 when CBS was in the early days of airing the Tournament solo.

The viewership numbers are also good. CBS/TBS/TNT/truTV received an average viewership of 8.1 million which is the highest since 1991.

The NCAA Tournament is averaging a 5.0/11 thus far.

Here’s what CBS/Turner want you to know about all this.

NCAA Tournament2013 NCAA® Division I Men’s Basketball Championship on TBS, CBS, TNT and truTv is Most-Watched First Thursday Since 1991

Thursday’s NCAA Tournament Coverage Delivers a 5.5 U.S. HH Rating and 8.1 Million Total Viewers
NCAA Tournament to Date is Most Watched in 20 Years

CBS Sports and Turner Sports’ exclusive second round coverage of the 2013 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV on Thursday, March 21, combined to deliver the most viewed (8.1 million total viewers) first Thursday of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship since 1991, when the tournament expanded to four telecast windows, according to Nielsen Fast Nationals.

Thursday’s coverage earned a Fast National U.S. household rating/share of a 5.5/12, +4% vs. 2012, 5.3/13, the highest average rating for the first Thursday of the NCAA Tournament in 19 years (5.6/14, 1994).

The 2013 NCAA Tournament to date, including the First Four, is averaging a 5.0/11, +6% from last year’s 4.7/11, and is tied with the highest-to-date rating since 2006 (5.0/11).

Overall, the 2013 NCAA Tournament to date is the most-watched in 20 years (1993). The First Four and Thursday’s coverage averaged 7.4 million viewers, +7% vs. 6.9 million viewers last year.

  • The first telecast window of the day combined to earn a 4.0/13, +14% vs. last year’s 3.5/13.
  • The second telecast window of the day combined to earn a 5.1/13, +6% vs. last year’s 4.8/13.
  • The third telecast window of the day combined to earn a 7.1/12, +11% vs. last year’s 6.4/12.
  • The fourth telecast window of the day combined to earn a 5.9/11 vs. last year’s 6.4/12.

Source: Nielsen Media Research, based on Fast National Data, Live +SD data stream. 3/19/13 to 03/21/13 vs. 03/13/12 to 03/15/12. 2013, 2012 and 2011 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.

There it is.

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.

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