CBS Sports and Turner Sports’ exclusive coverage of the 2013 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV is averaging 9.0 million total viewers to date, up 8% from last year’s 8.3 million viewers, and is the highest average for the NCAA Tournament through the Thursday Regional Semifinals in 20 years (10.2 million; 1993).
The 2013 NCAA Tournament to date is averaging a national HH rating/share of 5.9/12, up 7% from last year’s 5.5/12, and is the highest-to-date rating in 15 years (6.1/14; 1998).
Thursday night’s coverage across CBS and TBS averaged 10.4 million viewers, up 4% from last year’s 10.0 million viewers; and earned a Fast National HH rating/share of a 6.7/12, up 3% from last year’s 6.5/12.
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Source: Nielsen Media Research, based on Fast National Data, Live +SD data stream. 3/19/13 to 3/28/13 vs. 03/13/12 to 03/22/12. 2013, 2012 and 2011 averages based on weighted average of four telecast gross across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. Historical audiences, CBS 1991 through 2005 based on Live data. 2006 through 2012 based on Live + SD. 2003 based on CBS / ESPN average of First Round.
Source: Turner Newsroom, 3/29/13