Logo

TVWeek

2015 NCAA Tournament Delivers Record-Setting Numbers Through Elite Eight

Mar 30, 2015  •  Post A Comment

Press release from CBS Sports and Turner Sports, March 30, 2015:

The 2015 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship continues to deliver record-setting numbers across multimedia platforms. Turner Sports and CBS Sports’ exclusive coverage of the 2015 NCAA Tournament across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV is delivering the highest average overnight rating in 25 years (since the current television format began in 1991). Through the Elite Eight, the NCAA Tournament is averaging a 7.2/15 overnight rating/share, up 11% through the same period last year, based on Nielsen metered market ratings.

Sunday’s Elite Eight doubleheader on CBS averaged an 8.6/18 overnight rating/share, a 10% increase over last year. The Louisville vs. Michigan State broadcast averaged a 7.6/17 to deliver the highest rating in the game window in 22 years (8.1/21 in 1993) and up 17% from last year. In the second game, Duke vs. Gonzaga averaged a 9.9/20 to tie 2010 as the highest rating in the game window in 10 years (10.8/22; 2005), and up 10% over last year. The Duke vs. Gonzaga broadcast peaked with a 12.8/23 rating from 7:00-7:15 PM, ET.

Overall, this year’s Elite Eight coverage – on TBS and CBS – has averaged an 8.0/16, up 23% over last year (6.5/13) and is the highest average rating for the Regional Finals in 10 years (8.7/18 in 2005).

Additionally, NCAA March Madness Live has set an all-time record with more than 71 million live video streams through the Elite Eight, surpassing last year’s total of 69.7 million live video streams for the entire tournament. This year’s live video streams are up 13% over last year. Yesterday’s Elite Eight coverage netted 3.6 million live video streams for a 32% increase over last year. NCAA March Madness Live has also generated a record-setting 15.3 million hours of live video consumption, up 14% through Sunday.

The NCAA Tournament has grossed a record 181 million total social impressions across Facebook and Twitter through the second Thursday for a 31% increase over 2014.

Source: Nielsen Media Research, Arianna, Live +SD data stream. 3/17/15 – 3/28/15 vs. 3/18/15 – 3/29/15.   2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011 averages based on weighted average of 4 telecast gross across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV. Historical audiences, CBS 1991 through 2005 based on Live data. Conviva, Adobe Analytics for digital metrics. Facebook Insights and Twitter for social analytics.

Your Comment

Email (will not be published)