1 year, 11 months ago

UConn-San Diego State least-watched men’s title game: Why that should come as no surprise

Monday night’s NCAA men’s basketball national championship game drew 14.69 million viewers on CBS, according to ShowBuzz Daily, making it the least-watched men’s title game on record. Here’s what you need to know: The Athletic’s instant analysis: Why this should come as no surprise The CBS Sports television executives charged with broadcasting the men’s NCAA basketball tournament have always been honest about the television realities of the tournament. Discovery Sports to put out a big press release in April 2024 when the viewership numbers jump big from this year.— Deitsch What the ratings mean for those involved Not the sort of number anyone involved wants to see — particularly for UConn and the culmination of its fifth title run — but the NCAA will still get its billion dollars from the networks, and CBS still won the night’s biggest audience. — Shea Backstory According to SportsMediaWatch, Monday’s viewership average was the lowest for a national title game on CBS since Gonzaga–Baylor in 2021.

Ncaa Cbs come television title final viewership leastwatched basketball ncaa diego game cbs uconnsan surprise state mens tournament

History of this topic

1 week, 4 days ago

Strong TV ratings and attendance, women’s basketball in good place heading to NCAA Tournament

Associated Press

There was concern that attendance and overall interest in women’s college basketball would drop this year with the departure of Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and other stars for the WNBA. “The 3-5-10 year trend clearly is an upward trend.” While the network’s overall ratings are down from last season’s record mark that was due in large part to Clark being …

March Madness: How to watch the women’s NCAA Tournament and what to watch for

Trending News

1 week, 5 days ago

March Madness: How to watch the women’s NCAA Tournament and what to watch for

Associated Press

Women’s basketball has not slowed down at all this season as March Madness arrives. A year ago, the women’s NCAA championship game drew a bigger television audience than the men’s title game for the first time, with an average of 18.9 million viewers watching undefeated South Carolina beat Iowa and superstar Caitlin Clark. Instead, the women’s game has featured a …

1 month, 2 weeks ago

Busy week ahead with top matchups in women’s college basketball including UCLA-USC

Associated Press

The AP Top 25 women’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! It’s a busy week ahead in women’s basketball with a few top matchups on the schedule that may go a long way in determining conference regular season winners and top seeds in the NCAA Tournament. The Gamecocks enter Sunday’s game after seeing its 57-game regular …

2 months ago

Ohio State’s second title in the CFP era averages 22.1 million viewers, a 12% decline from last year

Associated Press

Ohio State’s 34-23 victory over Notre Dame in Monday night’s College Football Playoff national championship game, was the most-watched game of the season. ESPN announced Wednesday that the Buckeyes’ second national championship in the CFP era averaged 22.1 million viewers. Georgia’s 65-7 rout of TCU in 2023 was the least-viewed title game followed by Alabama’s 52-24 win over Ohio State …

2 months, 4 weeks ago

Holidays over, college basketball season resumes with a super Saturday of marquee games

Associated Press

The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Coming off a quiet stretch in the schedule, the college basketball season kicks into full gear this week, highlighted by a super Saturday with four games between ranked teams. The Cyclones’ only loss was by two to Auburn in their Maui Invitational opener, but they …

11 months, 2 weeks ago

In post-Caitlin Clark era, how can women’s college basketball keep TV momentum?

New York Times

The Athletic has live coverage of the 2024 WNBA draft. South Carolina’s 87-75 win over Iowa on April 7 averaged 18.9 million viewers, the most-viewed women’s college basketball game ever and the most-viewed college basketball game on record for an ESPN platform. To put the South Carolina-Iowa viewership in perspective, the game topped: • Every World Series game since Game …

11 months, 2 weeks ago

Women's NCAA Title Beats The Men's Championship In Ratings For First Time Ever

Huff Post

LOADING ERROR LOADING South Carolina’s 87-75 victory over Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the women’s NCAA championship game has achieved a pair of milestones. The Sunday afternoon game averaged 18.9 million viewers on ABC and ESPN while UConn’s 75-60 victory over Purdue in Monday night’s men’s final on TBS and TNT averaged 14.82 million. The audience for Sunday’s game — …

11 months, 2 weeks ago

NCAA men’s final sees viewership increase over 2023, but not enough to outdraw women’s title game

Associated Press

For the first time, the NCAA women’s basketball championship outdrew the men. UConn’s 75-60 victory over Purdue in Monday night’s men’s final on TBS and TNT averaged 14.82 million, according to Nielsen. That was not enough to surpass the 18.87 million who watched South Carolina defeat Caitlin Clark and Iowa in Sunday afternoon’s women’s final on ABC and ESPN. Friday …

11 months, 2 weeks ago

Women’s NCAA title game outdraws the men’s championship with an average of 18.9 million viewers

Associated Press

The women’s NCAA championship game drew a bigger television audience than the men’s title game for the first time, with an average of 18.9 million viewers watching undefeated South Carolina beat Iowa and superstar Caitlin Clark, according to ratings released Tuesday. The audience for the women’s game — in which the Gamecocks won their fourth national title and denied Clark’s …

11 months, 2 weeks ago

What are the next steps for women's college basketball after title game drew 18.9 million?

The Independent

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy South Carolina’s 87-75 victory over …

11 months, 2 weeks ago

18.7 million: Early figures from NCAA women’s title game make it most-watched hoops game in 5 years

Associated Press

BRISTOL, Conn. — South Carolina’s victory over Caitlin Clark and Iowa in Sunday’s women’s NCAA championship game had a preliminary audience average of 18.7 million on ABC and ESPN. It’s the most-watched basketball game since 2019, when the men’s NCAA title game between Virginia and Texas Tech averaged 19.6 million on CBS. The Hawkeyes’ victory over UConn Friday night averaged …

11 months, 3 weeks ago

South Carolina’s win over Iowa draws record 18.9 million viewers, most watched basketball game since 2019

New York Times

Caitlin Clark did not get her storybook ending Sunday afternoon in Cleveland, but women’s college basketball did when the viewership figures for the national championship game were released Monday. South Carolina’s win over Iowa was seen by an astonishing 18.9 million viewers and peaked at 24.1 million. Iowa’s second-round win over West Virginia drew 4.9 million viewers on ESPN, which …

11 months, 3 weeks ago

UConn vs. Iowa March Madness game viewership reaches an all-time high, surpassing Iowa-LSU by nearly TWO MILLION in women's record

Daily Mail

Friday night's Final Four clash between UConn and Iowa was the most-watched women's college basketball game of all time, as its peak of 17million viewers surpassed the viewership records set by Iowa-LSU mere days ago. Just on Monday, Iowa and LSU set a women's college basketball viewership record when an average of 12.3million viewers tuned into their Elite 8 matchup. …

11 months, 3 weeks ago

Iowa-UConn women’s Final Four semifinal most-watched hoops game in ESPN history; 14.2M avg. viewers

Associated Press

BRISTOL, Conn. — Iowa’s 71-69 victory over UConn at the women’s Final Four on Friday night averaged 14.2 million viewers on ESPN, making it the most-viewed women’s basketball game on record and the largest audience for an ESPN basketball broadcast. Game 7 of the 2018 Eastern Conference finals between Cleveland and Boston was ESPN’s most-watched basketball game at 13.51 million. …

11 months, 3 weeks ago

Iowa-UConn Final Four matchup breaks record for most-watched women’s college basketball game

New York Times

The Athletic has live coverage of Iowa vs. South Carolina in the women’s national championship game. Iowa’s 71-69 win over UConn on Friday night in Cleveland set a new record for the most-watched women’s college basketball game in history. This game tops the previous all-time viewership record, which was set on Monday when Iowa’s win over LSU averaged 12.3 million …

11 months, 3 weeks ago

This March Madness in women’s basketball is producing fewer upsets but closer games

Associated Press

This spotlight season for women’s college basketball isn’t merely creating brighter stars and bigger ratings. The top 16 women’s seeds play at home for the first two rounds while all men’s games are at neutral sites. Eleven lower seeds won in the first round of the men’s tournament, with Middle Tennessee the lone first-round winner among lower seeds in the …

11 months, 3 weeks ago

Iowa's Elite 8 win over LSU was the most watched women's college basketball game EVER after an average of 12.3 million viewers tuned in to watch Caitlin Clark's 41-point heroics

Daily Mail

Iowa's Elite 8 win over LSU on Monday became the most-watched women's college basketball game. On Tuesday, Joe Pompliano reported that ESPN's broadcast averaged 12.3 million viewers. Iowa's 94-87 Elite 8 win over LSU on Monday night averaged 12.3 million viewers on ESPN BREAKING: The Iowa-LSU game averaged 12.3 million viewers on ESPN, making it the most-watched women's college basketball …

11 months, 3 weeks ago

12.3 million: Iowa’s victory over LSU is the most-watched women’s college basketball game on record

Associated Press

Caitlin Clark can claim another record — the most-watched women’s college basketball game in history. Iowa’s 94-87 victory over LSU in the Elite Eight of the women’s NCAA Tournament on Monday night averaged 12.3 million viewers on ESPN, according to Nielsen. Only one men’s NCAA Tournament game this year had bigger viewership: North Carolina State’s win over Duke on Sunday …

11 months, 3 weeks ago

The women’s NCAA Tournament had center stage. The stars, and the games, delivered in a big way

Associated Press

There were plenty of people at a movie theater in central Iowa on Monday night, though very few of them were watching an actual movie. Rapper Travis Scott told his nearly 12 million followers on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, that Monday “might be one for the illest days in women’s sports historyyyyyyy.” And Hall of Famer Magic …

1 year ago

Caitlin Clark and Iowa draw nearly 5 million viewers for second-round NCAA win

Associated Press

BRISTOL, Conn. — It didn’t take long for Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes to break their viewing record in the women’s NCAA Tournament. The Hawkeyes’ 64-54 victory over West Virginia in Monday night’s second-round game averaged 4.90 million viewers on ESPN, according to Nielsen, making it the most-viewed women’s tournament game ever — excluding Final Four contests and title …

1 year ago

Clark, Iowa claim another record with most-viewed first-round game in women’s NCAA tourney history

Associated Press

BRISTOL, Conn. — Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes can claim another record — the most-viewed first-round game in women’s NCAA Tournament history. The viewership surpassed the 2.50 million who watched last year’s Elite Eight game between Iowa and Louisville, making this the most-viewed women’s tournament game ever — excluding Final Four contests and title games. Connecticut’s game against Jackson …

1 year ago

March Madness men’s tournament viewer’s guide: How to watch, who’s on the call and more

New York Times

Those charged with broadcasting the NCAA men’s basketball tournament have always been honest about the realities of the tournament. “You’re not going to know about all 68 teams that are in the tournament, and it’s our job to not just tell you the story of Kentucky and UConn and those players, but also those kids who are, say, the SWAC …

1 year ago

The 2024 NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournament brackets

LA Times

The 68-team bracket for the 2024 NCAA men’s basketball tournament is set, with start times and TV channels finalized for each game. 10 Boise State — Wednesday, 6:10 p.m. | TruTV FIRST ROUND EAST REGION No. 15 South Dakota State, Thursday, 4:35 p.m. | TruTV SOUTH REGION No. 10 Boise State / Colorado, Friday, 1:30 p.m. | TBS No. 15 …

1 year ago

College basketball viewers’ guide: Kansas-Houston, North Carolina-Duke and more

New York Times

We made it — the final viewers’ guide of the college basketball season. Your guide to the early conference tournaments One last time, let’s power-rank the top-10 matchups between over the final five days of the regular season, starting with a few honorable mentions and counting down. The Aztecs, who made it all the way to the national title game …

1 year ago

Caitlin Clark’s record-setting game draws top women’s basketball regular-season TV rating since 1999

Associated Press

Caitlin Clark’s record-setting game for Iowa against Ohio State on Sunday attracted more than 4 million television viewers at its peak and was the most watched women’s regular-season basketball game since 1999, Fox Sports announced Tuesday. No women’s regular-season game on any network had more viewers since 3.88 million tuned in for UConn-Tennessee in January 1999, according to Sports Media …

1 year, 1 month ago

College basketball viewers’ guide: Baylor-Kansas, Gonzaga-Kentucky and more

New York Times

It’s so strange to see Gonzaga at Kentucky on the schedule in the thick of conference play. 22 Utah State, Saturday, 10 p.m., FS1 Big-time bubble implications in this one, especially for the Broncos, who are looking to add another Quad 1 win to the resume after dropping one on the road to Colorado State on Tuesday. 5 Houston at …

1 year, 2 months ago

UConn takes status as reigning NCAA champ, No. 1 in AP Top 25 into tough week of Big East play

Associated Press

A week full of upsets helped reigning national champion Connecticut push to its first No. 18 Creighton on Wednesday to headline the week’s AP Top 25 national schedule, then visits Villanova — which has wins against currently ranked teams North Carolina, Texas Tech and Creighton — on Saturday. BIG 12 TESTS The Big 12 has a national-best eight teams in …

1 year, 2 months ago

NCAA agrees to $920 million, 8-year deal with ESPN for women’s March Madness, 39 other championships

Associated Press

The NCAA and ESPN announced on Thursday a $920 million, eight-year agreement that will give the network exclusive rights to 40 championships, including the Division I women’s basketball tournament, an event growing in popularity that the association has been accused of undervaluing in the past. “I do believe this was the best deal that was available.” Baker said the NCAA’s …

1 year, 2 months ago

NCAA signs lucrative TV deal for championships, but keeps women’s basketball in bundle

New York Times

The NCAA on Thursday said it had reached an eight-year agreement with ESPN worth $115 million annually to televise 40 college sports championships each year, including the marquee Division I women’s basketball tournament that many people within college sports had hoped would be primed for even bigger returns given a wave of recent popularity. Ultimately, the NCAA and ESPN agreed …

1 year, 9 months ago

NBA Finals Game 5 tops prime-time, although viewership drops from last year

LA Times

Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic, left, and Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, the week’s top-rated program. The only other prime-time program between June 12 and Sunday to average more than 5 million viewers was NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” which averaged 5.96 million viewers. Its top-rated program outside the NBA Finals coverage was the 8 p.m. …

1 year, 9 months ago

2023 WCWS championship series averages 1.6 million viewers: What’s next for the media rights?

New York Times

The 2023 Women’s College World Series championship series, which saw Oklahoma defeat Florida State to pull off a three-peat, averaged 1.6 million viewers, ESPN announced Friday. Here’s what you need to know: Thursday’s title game — which extended the Sooners’ win streak to 53 games — averaged 1.9 million viewers, peaking at 2.3 million, a 7 percent increase from last …

1 year, 11 months ago

UConn wins March Madness with 76-59 smothering of SDSU

The Independent

1 year, 11 months ago

Sunday’s NCAA women’s title game draws record TV audience

Associated Press

BRISTOL, Conn. — LSU’s 102-85 victory over Iowa in Sunday’s national championship game was the most-viewed NCAA women’s basketball game on record, with 9.9 million viewers on ABC and ESPN2 according to fast national numbers by Nielsen. LSU’s first national title in women’s basketball was the first on network television since UConn’s win over Tennessee in 1995. The previous network …

1 year, 11 months ago

2024 men’s college basketball national title odds: Duke, UConn, Kentucky early co-favorites

New York Times

Connecticut just won its fifth national title since 1999 and already the Huskies are among the favorites to win the title in 2024. 2024 men’s college basketball national title odds All odds from BetMGM. Team Odds Duke +1200 Connecticut +1200 Kentucky +1200 Kansas +1600 Alabama +1600 Arizona +1800 Purdue +1800 Houston +1800 Kentucky had the worst season of the eight …

1 year, 11 months ago

LSU-Iowa title game draws record 9.9 million viewers: Why that’s game changing for women’s CBB

New York Times

Sunday’s NCAA women’s basketball national championship game featuring the LSU Tigers and Iowa Hawkeyes drew 9.9 million viewers, according to ESPN. The previous record for an NCAA women’s basketball title game in the ESPN era was 5.68 million viewers for UConn’s win over Oklahoma in 2002. Last year’s final between South Carolina and UConn averaged 4.85 million viewers across ESPN, …

1 year, 11 months ago

Women making case in tourney for own March Madness TV deal

Associated Press

Women’s basketball seems to have found a winner with its new Sweet 16 format in March Madness and the timing couldn’t be better with looming TV contract negotiations on the horizon. “With the success we’ve had hopefully it opens up new doors so we don’t keep going to the same cities.” The local organizing committee in Seattle said that they …

2 years ago

Final Four TV ratings primer: Women’s set for big numbers, men’s likely to drop

New York Times

March Madness may end up April Anarchy, at least in the men’s NCAA basketball tournament that wraps up without any of the sport’s blueblood programs vying to cut down the nets at Houston’s NRG Stadium. A year ago, Kansas rallied from a 16-point deficit to win the men’s tournament, 72-69, over North Carolina in a game that averaged 18.1 million …

2 years, 4 months ago

Big Ten men’s basketball: What impact will media rights deal, USC-UCLA additions have?

New York Times

MINNEAPOLIS — When it comes to payouts and ratings, football dwarfs other college sports during media rights negotiations. It’ll be sad not to have them as a partner of our games.” Many of the midweek Big Ten games on ESPN draw around 1 million viewers with both die-hard and casual observers tuning in. “We’re two of the biggest brands in …

2 years, 7 months ago

ABC To Air NCAA Women’s Basketball Title Game For 1st Time

Huff Post

FILE - Mississippi State center Teaira McCowan and South Carolina forward A'ja Wilson reach for the ball on the opening tipoff of the final of the NCAA women's college basketball tournament on April 2, 2017. AP Photo/Eric Gay, File The NCAA women’s basketball title game will be broadcast this season on ABC for the first time. “Women’s NCAA Championships continue …

2 years, 7 months ago

ABC to air NCAA women's basketball title game for 1st time

The Independent

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

2 years, 9 months ago

Women’s College World Series final outgains men’s final, averages 1.7 million viewers

New York Times

The final game of the Women’s College World Series, in which Oklahoma downed Big 12 foe Texas to claim a sixth national title, averaged 1.7 million viewers and peaked at 2.1 million, according to ESPN. The viewership, though down slightly from the record-setting 1.85 million average in 2021, topped the Men’s College World Series final ratings. Game 1 of the …

2 years, 11 months ago

NCAA Women's Tournament TV rights could have different look

The Independent

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The NCAA championships package — which includes the women’s …

2 years, 11 months ago

Kansas' victory most-viewed men's title game on cable TV

The Independent

2 years, 11 months ago

South Carolina-UConn women’s national championship averaged 4.85 million total viewers

New York Times

South Carolina, with Coach of the Year in trailblazing Dawn Staley and Player of the Year in likely top 2023 WNBA Draft pick Aliyah Boston, proved to be must-see TV amid the madness of March college basketball. The Gamecocks’ 64-49 victory over rival powerhouse Connecticut to win the women’s NCAA basketball tournament on Sunday averaged 4.85 million total viewers — …

2 years, 11 months ago

Social media explodes during Oscars; TV viewership doesn’t

Associated Press

NEW YORK — Will Smith’s violent slap of Chris Rock at the Academy Awards appeared to have a negligible impact on the show’s television audience. ABC’s “World News Tonight” led the evening news ratings race with an average of 8.3 million viewers last week. NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament: North Carolina vs. UCLA, CBS, 8.82 million. NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament: Texas …

3 years, 11 months ago

About 17 million view Baylor's championship win over Gonzaga

The Independent

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. ABC's “World News Tonight” won the evening news ratings …

6 years, 11 months ago

As College Basketball Prepares To Crown Men's Champion, Scandal Looms Over Program

NPR

As College Basketball Prepares To Crown Men's Champion, Scandal Looms Over Program College basketball has one more game — the men's national championship. MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST: Tonight in San Antonio, the Men's Division One College Basketball Final will decide the next champion. Same with the women's Final Four where Notre Dame won because of a shot of a lifetime …

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3 days, 9 hours ago