CBS and Turner Networks just keep hitting the big shots, as far as NCAA Tournament ratings are concerned.
With the broadcaster and cable conglomerate now sharing a 14-year, $10 billion contract to air college basketball's signature event, ratings stayed hot, with Saturday's regional finals coverage averaging 9.9 million viewers, the best performance in six years.
Here's the full ratings release:
THE 2011 NCAA® DIVISION I MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ON
TBS, CBS, TNT AND truTV
MOST-WATCHED TOURNAMENT SINCE 2005 AVERAGING 9.1 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS
CBS Sports’ and Turner Sports’ exclusive live coverage of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV is the most-watched tournament since 2005, averaging 9.1 million total viewers, +11% from 8.2 million total viewers for CBS Sports’ 2010 coverage. The overall tournament average-to-date, including the FIRST FOUR®, is a 5.9/13 rating/share, +13% from a 5.2/12 for 2010, according to Nielsen Fast Nationals.
The 5.9/13 ties with 2006 as the highest average rating for the NCAA Tournament through the Saturday regional finals since a 6.1/13 in 2005.
Coverage of the regional finals on CBS on Saturday, March 26 averaged 9.9 million total viewers, the highest viewer average for the Saturday regional finals since 2005 (when both games went to OT), and earned a household rating/share of 6.2/13 even with 2010.
