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

Nielsen data shows the men's NCAA tournament averaged 10.3 million viewers through the Elite Eight, up 9% from 2023 and the best audience since 1993. The East Region final, where UConn beat Duke 73‑72, drew 13.4 million on CBS, peaking at 18.9 million when Braylon Mullins hit a last‑second 3‑pointer.

Friday’s early window featuring Duke‑St. John’s and Michigan‑Alabama averaged 14.2 million, the most‑watched Friday regional since 1992. The Final Four and title game will air on TBS, TNT and truTV, while the women’s tournament on ESPN and ABC averages 789,000 viewers through the Sweet 16, a 1% drop from last year.