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

The men's NCAA tournament averaged 10.3 million viewers through the Elite Eight, the highest since 1993 and a 9 % increase over 2023. CBS’s UConn‑Duke East Region final drew 13.4 million, while the peak 18.9 million audience came when Braylon Mullins hit a 3‑pointer with 0.4 seconds left. Friday’s early regional window, featuring Duke‑St. John’s on CBS and Michigan‑Alabama on TBS/truTV, averaged 14.2 million, the most‑watched Friday early window since 1992.

The women’s tournament on ESPN and ABC averaged 789,000 viewers through the Sweet 16, a 1 % drop from last year. Final Four and title game will air on TBS, TNT and truTV for the men, while Sunday and Monday regional finals ratings are expected Wednesday.