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March 30, 2015
 

SKEDBALL: March Madness through Friday #2

Chart updated with persons 2+ audiences for the four games played Friday, March 27, 2015 (the second and final day of the Sweet 16 Round):

  • Telecast 57: CBS 7 pm #2-Gonzaga 74 #11-UCLA 62 (Gonzaga up 35-28 at half)
  • Telecast 58: CBS 9:53 pm #1-Duke 63 #5-Utah 57 (Duke up 27-22 at half)
  • Telecast 59: TBS 7:37 pm #4-Louisville 75 #8-North Carolina State 65 (NCS up 33-31 at half)
  • Telecast 60: TBS 10:15 pm #7-Michigan State 62 #3-Oklahoma 58 (OK up 31-27 at half)

CBS games Friday were below 2014 levels but very close to 2013 levels.  For its two Friday games, TBS was right around 2014’s levels but well below the 2013 highs.

March Madness 2013 to 2015 through Friday2 telecast 60

 

Tournament to Date Ratings Averages

NCAA Basketball Tournament averages for Persons 2+ live+same day.  Through the second Friday of the tournament (the conclusion of the Sweet 16 round).

CBS continues to track below 2014 (but above 2012 and 2013) among persons 2+ for the tournament through Friday.  TBS is above 2014 (but still below 2013).  Nonetheless, the total TV number (combining all four network partners) is almost exactly matching 2014 and still ahead of 2012 and 2013.

NCAA Basketball Tournament: PERSONS 2+ Audience Averages 

through second Friday (telecasts 1-60)

 2012 2013 2014 2015
CBS 5,518,000 5,708,000 6,276,000 5,944,000
TBS 2,453,000 2,903,000 2,500,000 2,793,000
TNT 1,856,000 2,198,000 2,429,000 2,450,000
TRU 1,177,000 1,278,000 1,260,000 1,348,000
All Nets 3,028,000 3,298,000 3,413,000 3,409,000

 

With men 18-49, however, the numbers are less stable.  CBS through Friday continues to lag behind the last three years with men 18-49.  Although TBS and TNT are above 2014 levels, the tournament as a whole is the lowest since 2012 with the valuable male 18-49 sports demo.

NCAA Basketball Tournament: MEN 18-49 Rating Averages

through second Friday (telecasts 1-60)

2012 2013 2014 2015
CBS 2.64 2.62 2.83 2.54
TBS 1.37 1.58 1.35 1.39
TNT 0.98 1.15 1.27 1.32
TRU 0.69 0.70 0.66 0.73
All Nets 1.54 1.63 1.65 1.60

 

NEXT UPDATE: Early Tuesday we will have ratings for most of the games played Saturday and Sunday in the Elite 8 round.

Saturday March 28, 2015

  • Telecast 61: TBS 6:09 pm #1-Wisconsin 85 #2-Arizona 78 (Arizona up 33-30 at half)
  • Telecast 62: TBS 8:49 pm #1-Kentucky 68 #3-Notre Dame 66 (Tied 31-31 at half)

Sunday March 29, 2015

  • Telecast 63: CBS 2:20 pm #7-Michigan State 76 #4-Louisville 70 (Louisville up 40-32 at half)
  • Telecast 64: CBS 5:05 pm #1-Duke 66 #2-Gonzaga 52 (Duke up 31-26 at half)

 



About the Author

Mitch Metcalf
MITCH METCALF has been tracking every US film release of over 500 screens (over 2300 movies and counting) since the storied weekend of May 20, 1994, when Maverick and Beverly Hills Cop 3 inspired countless aficionados to devote their lives to the art of cinema. Prior to that, he studied Politics and Economics at Princeton in order to prepare for his dream of working in television. He has been Head of West Coast Research at ABC, then moved to NBC in 2000 and became Head of Scheduling for 11 years.