Men's NCAA Tournament Hits 10.3M Avg Viewers, Best Since 1993

Nielsen data shows the men's tournament averaged 10.3 million viewers through the Elite Eight, the best audience since 1993 and a 9% increase over 2023. Highlights included a 13.4‑million audience for UConn’s 73‑72 win over Duke on CBS and a peak of 18.9 million when Braylon Mullins hit a last‑second 3‑pointer. Friday’s early regional window drew 14.2 million viewers, the most watched since 1992.

The Final Four and title game will air on TBS, TNT and truTV. The women’s tournament on ESPN and ABC averaged 789,000 viewers through the Sweet 16, down 1% from last year. Ratings for Sunday and Monday regional finals are expected Wednesday.