2008 Final Down Slightly From 2007
Update April 8, 2008: The final drew 19.50 million viewers. Click the link for more numbers regarding the 2008 final.
Update April 15, 2008: The chart and table have been updated.
I've been hooked on NCAA Basketball since my college days at Virginia (which started about the same time as this chart), and I've watched as much of the NCAA Men's basketball tournament every year as I possibly could. However, looking at the fairly constant TV ratings of the championship game, around 30 million viewers from 1975-1994 and then the steep drop to around 20 million since 2003, I wondered what the heck happened starting in 1995? I can't figure it out, maybe someone else out there knows something that I don't. Give it your best shot in the comments.
Here is the full data and some additional facts:
| Year | Avg. Through Regional Finals (million) | Championship Game (million) | Finals Matchup |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 30.08 | UCLA vs KENTUCKY | |
| 1976 | 26.71 | INDIANA vs MICHIGAN | |
| 1977 | 26.40 | MARQUETTE vs NORTH CAROLINA | |
| 1978 | 25.38 | KENTUCKY vs DUKE | |
| 1979 | 35.11 | MICHIGAN ST vs INDIANA ST | |
| 1980 | no data | LOUISVILLE vs UCLA | |
| 1981 | 29.06 | INDIANA vs NORTH CAROLINA | |
| 1982 | 30.59 | NORTH CAROLINA vs GEORGETOWN | |
| 1983 | 32.14 | NC STATE vs HOUSTON | |
| 1984 | 25.14 | GEORGETOWN vs HOUSTON | |
| 1985 | 31.23 | VILLANOVA vs GEORGETOWN | |
| 1986 | 28.71 | LOUISVILLE vs DUKE | |
| 1987 | 32.06 | INDIANA vs SYRACUSE | |
| 1988 | 26.69 | KANSAS vs OKLAHOMA | |
| 1989 | 31.12 | MICHIGAN vs SETON HALL | |
| 1990 | 29.26 | UNLV vs DUKE | |
| 1991 | 29.02 | DUKE vs KANSAS | |
| 1992 | 34.31 | DUKE vs MICHIGAN | |
| 1993 | 32.94 | NORTH CAROLINA vs MICHIGAN | |
| 1994 | 32.73 | ARKANSAS vs DUKE | |
| 1995 | 27.41 | UCLA vs ARKANSAS | |
| 1996 | 26.67 | KENTUCKY vs SYRACUSE | |
| 1997 | 28.36 | ARIZONA vs KENTUCKY | |
| 1998 | 26.60 | KENTUCKY vs UTAH | |
| 1999 | 26.30 | CONNECTICUT vs DUKE | |
| 2000 | 20.59 | MICHIGAN ST vs FLORIDA | |
| 2001 | 8.0 | 23.87 | DUKE vs ARIZONA |
| 2002 | 8.5 | 23.69 | MARYLAND vs INDIANA |
| 2003 | 7.2 | 18.57 | SYRACUSE vs KANSAS |
| 2004 | 8.4 | 17.09 | CONNECTICUT vs GEORGIA TECH |
| 2005 | 9.7 | 23.90 | NORTH CAROLINA vs ILLINOIS |
| 2006 | 8.8 | 17.54 | FLORIDA vs UCLA |
| 2007 | 8.3 | 19.56 | FLORIDA vs OHIO STATE |
| 2008 | 19.50 | KANSAS vs MEMPHIS | |
| 2009 | 17.60 | NORTH CAROLINA vs MICHIGAN STATE |
- NBC televised The Game from 1975-1981, CBS from 1982-present.
- Since 1975, the NCAA Championship Final game has always been on a Monday night, starting between 8-9pm Eastern until 1991 since then it's started at 9:15 Eastern every year except 1995 when it started at 8:30pm.
- 2006 & 2007 data above is Live+SD, all other data is Live viewing.
Nielsen TV Ratings Data: ©2008 Nielsen Media Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
a lot also has to do with these games not being very good, but the kansas/syracuse game was a classic and that had low viewership.
so its most likely the fact that people can get their college basketball fix during the course of the regular season, the endless barrage of selection sunday coverage, the hype over the first weekend, etc. by the time championship monday roles around, the hype is long gone and the interest just isn't there.
a lot also has to do with these games not being very good, but the kansas/syracuse game was a classic and that had low viewership.
so its most likely the fact that people can get their college basketball fix during the course of the regular season, the endless barrage of selection sunday coverage, the hype over the first weekend, etc. by the time championship monday roles around, the hype is long gone and the interest just isn’t there.
You make some good points Kayarn. The ratings decrease in the finals may well be dwarfed by cumulative ratings increases, at least during the first week. Unfortunately, we don’t have historical data for that
You make some good points Kayarn. The ratings decrease in the finals may well be dwarfed by cumulative ratings increases, at least during the first week. Unfortunately, we don't have historical data for that
1995 was about the time players began staying in school only one year or bypassing college completely to go to the NBA. I used to be a die-hard college hoops fan, but now couldn’t name more than 10 players. Why? With early defections, it’s like I have to re-learn the majority of the players for some of the elite programs.
1995 was about the time players began staying in school only one year or bypassing college completely to go to the NBA. I used to be a die-hard college hoops fan, but now couldn't name more than 10 players. Why? With early defections, it's like I have to re-learn the majority of the players for some of the elite programs.
Ron, kayarn, 1995 was the year Kevin Garnett was drafted directly from high school, the first player to have that distinction.
While I’m not sure we can say that’s a statistically significant bit of data, I’m willing to go with it as being the start of the championship game ratings slide.
Ron, kayarn, 1995 was the year Kevin Garnett was drafted directly from high school, the first player to have that distinction.
While I'm not sure we can say that's a statistically significant bit of data, I'm willing to go with it as being the start of the championship game ratings slide.
Moses Malone predates KG by two decades! Of course Malone did sign a letter of intent with University of Md before bailing for the ABA (Utah drafted him) and if you don’t want to count the ABA, I suppose nobody would hold that against you.
Moses Malone predates KG by two decades! Of course Malone did sign a letter of intent with University of Md before bailing for the ABA (Utah drafted him) and if you don't want to count the ABA, I suppose nobody would hold that against you.
Indeed, Garnett was the first player drafted by the NBA
Indeed, Garnett was the first player drafted by the NBA
No, I think Daryl Dawkins was in 1975 (drafted out of high school by the Philadelphia 76ers). Though there was a 20 year hiatus after that. Actually a few players who enrolled but never played a college game snuck in (Shawn Kemp comes to mind), but I think KG was the first after Dawkins to go officially from high school to the NBA.
No, I think Daryl Dawkins was in 1975 (drafted out of high school by the Philadelphia 76ers). Though there was a 20 year hiatus after that. Actually a few players who enrolled but never played a college game snuck in (Shawn Kemp comes to mind), but I think KG was the first after Dawkins to go officially from high school to the NBA.
pure speculation, but perhaps Nielsen started measuring average viewers differently. CBS claims 40 million watched last year’s final, but the Nielsen info we get is for average viewers throughout the entire telecast.
CBS also claims that some 130 million take in at least some NCAA coverage over the course of the tourney. That’s a big deal.
pure speculation, but perhaps Nielsen started measuring average viewers differently. CBS claims 40 million watched last year's final, but the Nielsen info we get is for average viewers throughout the entire telecast.
CBS also claims that some 130 million take in at least some NCAA coverage over the course of the tourney. That's a big deal.
Speculation is what keeps us going!
Speculation is what keeps us going!
i root for temple (in for the first time since 01!!) and we rarely have players leave early.
the solution: dont root for duke, unc, etc. root for a smaller school with limited exposure and you wont have problems with kids leaving early.
i root for temple (in for the first time since 01!!) and we rarely have players leave early.
the solution: dont root for duke, unc, etc. root for a smaller school with limited exposure and you wont have problems with kids leaving early.