via press release:
THE 2011 NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ON
CBS, TBS, TNT AND truTV SCORES RATINGS SLAM DUNK FOR THURSDAY’S SECOND ROUND OF PLAY
Overnight Ratings Highest in 20 Years For First Thursday of Tournament
CBS Sports’ and Turner Sports’ exclusive second-round coverage of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV on Thursday, March 17 combined to deliver an overnight household rating/share of 5.7/13 up 24% from a 4.6/11 for CBS Sports’ 2010 coverage, according to Nielsen.
The 5.7/13 was the highest rating for the first Thursday of the NCAA Tournament in the metered markets since 1991, when the tournament expanded to four telecast windows for the entire day.
The first telecast window of the day (12:00 NOON-4:15 PM, ET) combined to earn a 4.4/15, up +42% from a 3.1/10 last year.
The second window of the day (3:00-6:45 PM, ET) delivered a 5.1/13, up +46% from a 3.5/10 last year.
The third telecast window of the day (7:00-9:45 PM, ET) delivered a 6.5/12, up +8% from a 6.0/11 in 2010.
The final window of the day, (9:15 PM-12:30 AM, ET) earned a 6.9/13, up +13% from a 6.1/12 last year.
