The NCAA Tournament has seen record ratings during the first three days, but Sunday’s blowout games caused a slight decrease in viewership. Overall, the tournament is averaging 9.07 million viewers on CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, which is a slight increase from last year. The tournament’s average through Saturday was 9.0 million, making it the most-watched at that stage. However, Sunday’s games averaged 8.91 million viewers, an 8% decrease compared to last year, with an average winning margin of 18.9 points in the eight games played.
Saturday’s second-round games saw an average of 10.8 million viewers, making it the most-watched second-round Saturday in tournament history. The game between Michigan State and North Carolina drew 10.02 million viewers, the most-watched second-round Saturday game since 2016. Thursday’s first round games averaged 8.5 million viewers, the most-watched since 2015, while Friday’s games averaged 8.6 million, the second-most watched behind last year’s 8.8 million.
Given that all four top seeds are still alive in the tournament, CBS and TNT Sports are expected to regain momentum during the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds. Many traditional, blueblood programs are still in the field, which should attract a larger audience. Fans can stay updated on the latest March Madness news and coverage through the AP March Madness bracket and coverage hub, where they can track their favorite teams and follow the action. Overall, despite a slight dip in viewership on Sunday, the NCAA Tournament continues to be a popular and highly-watched event for college basketball fans.
