2013 NCAA Tournament Is Most-Watched in 19 Years

The 2013 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV is the most-watched NCAA Tournament in 19 years, according to Nielsen. The 2013 NCAA Tournament averaged 10.7 million total viewers, up 11% from last year's 9.6 million viewers, and is the highest average for the NCAA Tournament in 19 years (11.2 million; 1994).

The National Championship game, which saw Louisville defeat Michigan on CBS on Monday, April 8, earned an average fast national household rating/share of 14.0/22, up 14% from last year's 12.3/19 (Kentucky-Kansas). The National Championship game averaged 23.4 million viewers, up 12% from last year's 20.9 million.

The Championship game coverage peaked in HH rating/share with a 16.1/27 and average viewers with 27.1 million, from 11:00-11:30 PM, ET.

Coverage for the entire 2013 NCAA Tournament across Turner Sports and CBS Sports averaged a HH rating/share of 6.7/14, up 10% from last year's 6.1/13, and is the highest average NCAA Tournament rating in eight years (6.9/15; 2005).

Source: Nielsen Media Research, Live +SD data stream. 3/19/13 to 04/09/13 vs. 03/13/12 to 04/02/12. 2013, 2012 and 2011 averages based on weighted average of four telecast gross across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. Historical audiences, CBS 1991 through 2005 based on Live data. 2006 through 2012 based on Live + SD. 2003 based on CBS / ESPN average of First Round.

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