Logo

Shows on Rival Nets Sink to Lows Against CBS’s NCAA Final

Apr 8, 2014  •  Post A Comment

CBS's coverage of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Game Monday night — the culmination of "March Madness" — gave the Tiffany Network a big ratings win as shows on rival broadcast networks, NBC, Fox and ABC hit low marks, based on Nielsen overnights for the key 18-49 demo.

TVbytheNumbers.com reports that NBC's "The Voice" equaled its season low in the demo, while ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" hit a new season low and Fox's "The Following" equaled its all-time low.

CBS's NCAA Tournament Final delivered a 6.0 average rating in the 18-49 demo from 9-11 p.m., well off the pace of last year's preliminary 7.5. The report notes that CBS's ratings are subject to more than the usual adjustments due to the nature of live programming.

Even while matching its season low, NBC's two-hour "The Voice" was the top non-sports program on broadcast prime Monday night, delivering a 3.4 average in 18-49. Going head-to-head with it, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" managed a 2.1.

While ABC went with a "Castle" repeat (1.3 average in 18-49) at 10 p.m. against the end of the NCAA game, NBC put up a fresh installment of "American Dream Builders" and pulled in a 1.6.

Fox's "Bones" aired during the runup to the NCAA game at 8 p.m. and delivered a 1.6 average in adults 18-49, ticking up one-tenth from last week. "The Following" equaled the series low it set one week ago, a 1.4.

For prime time overall, CBS was well ahead of the other broadcast nets with a 4.9 average in viewers 18-49, topping NBC (2.8 average), ABC (1.8), Fox (1.5) and Univision (1.2). CBS also won total viewers, averaging 14.6 million to lead ABC (12.1 million), NBC (9.7 million), Fox (5.5 million) and Univision (2.8 million).

Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for ncaa march madness.jpg

Your Comment

Email (will not be published)