NCAA Tournament averaging best viewership since 1993
By SAM LANCE
This year’s NCAA Tournament, without a Cinderella story in the Sweet Sixteen, is drawing the highest March Madness viewership since 1993. TNT Sports and CBS Sports are averaging 9.4 million viewers through the first weekend.
TNT Sports and CBS Sports are Delivering the NCAA Tournament's Best Viewership Since 1993, Averaging 9.4 Million Viewers Through the Second Round pic.twitter.com/mOfcKtg7wC
— March Madness Men’s Basketball TV (@MM_MBB_TV) March 25, 2025
There have been discussions online about the lack of upsets and whether or not it’s good or bad for the game. Stephen A. Smith said on First Take the lack of a Cinderella could be the “death of college basketball.” But we’re seeing at least in terms of viewership, that’s not the case.
The First Four set a record of 7.4 million viewers on truTV, up 20% from last season. Sunday’s games of Kentucky-Illinois and Duke-Baylor averaged 10.1 million viewers, up 13% from last year.
Arkansas is the only team seeded 10 and lower that has made the Sweet Sixteen. Additionally, there are only four leagues represented in the Sweet Sixteen: ACC, Big 12, Big Ten and SEC. All of these conferences have huge brands represented (Duke, Arizona, Michigan State, Kentucky, etc.) and viewership is likely to keep trending up.
With all the talk of upsets being the staple of March Madness, this year’s tournament proves big brands flourish in the spotlight. College basketball isn’t dying. It’s thriving, glass slipper or not.
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