NCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP Leads CBS to Big Weekly Ratings Win

CBS was first in viewers and key demographics for the second time in the past three weeks, led by the most-watched NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME since 1997 and the highest-rated SURVIVOR in adults 18-49 since last October, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for the week ending April 12.

For the season, CBS is first in viewers, adults 25-54 and just -0.2 from first in adults 18-49. Compared to last year, CBS is up +5% in viewers and even in both adults 18-49 and adults 25-54.

CBS had the week's top five broadcasts and 15 of the top 20 (75%), led by #1 NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, which scored an 18-year high of 28.3 million viewers.

CBS had the most-watched broadcast on all seven nights of the week: Monday (NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP), Tuesday (NCIS), Wednesday (CRIMINAL MINDS), Thursday (THE BIG BANG THEORY), Friday (BLUE BLOODS), Saturday (48 HOURS) and Sunday (60 MINUTES).

Among adults 18-49, CBS had eight of the week's top 10 broadcasts (including ties) in adults 18-49 - more than the other networks combined - with #1 CBS NCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP (S), #2 CBS NCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP PRE-TIP (S), #3 THE BIG BANG THEORY, #6 SURVIVOR (with its highest-rated episode since last October), #7 (tie) CBS NCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP PRE-GAME (S), #9 (tie) NCIS, #9 (tie) CRIMINAL MINDS and #9 (tie) THE ODD COUPLE.

CBS Broadcasts in the Top 20:

#1 - NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMP: DUKE/WISCONSIN-S (28.26m) - Most-Watched NCAA Championship Game In 18 Years
#2 - NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMP PRE-TIP-S (18.45m)
#3 - NCIS (16.85m)
#4 - THE BIG BANG THEORY (14.79m)
#5 - NCIS: NEW ORLEANS (14.33m)
#7 - 60 MINUTES (12.60m)
#8 - MADAM SECRETARY (11.39m)
#11 - CRIMINAL MINDS (10.39m)
#12 - BLUE BLOODS (10.31m)
#13 - SURVIVOR (9.84m)
#14 - THE ODD COUPLE (9.73m)
#16 - MOM (9.03m)
#17 - THE GOOD WIFE (8.75m)
#18 - HAWAII FIVE-0 (8.70m)
#19 - PERSON OF INTEREST (8.67m)

CBS Weekly Highlights:

NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
· NCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME "Wisconsin vs. Duke" (S) (9:18-11:28 PM) posted 28.26m viewers, 9.8/25 in adults 25-54, 9.1/27 in adults 18-49, 8.1/28 in adults 18-34, 12.3/32 in men 25-54, 11.3/33 in men 18-49 and 9.5/34 in men 18-34. The NCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME posted its largest audience since 1997 (Kentucky vs. Arizona), best adults 25-54, adults 18-49, men 18-49 and adults 18-34 since 2002 (Maryland vs. Indiana).

o CBS posted its largest Monday audience (18.77m) since May 16, 2005, the night of the series finale of "Everybody Loves Raymond."

SURVIVOR
· SURVIVOR was first in viewers (9.84m), adults 25-54 (3.2/09) and adults 18-49 (2.5/09), posting its largest audience and best adults 25-54 delivery since the February 25th winter premiere and best adults 18-49 rating since October 8, 2014. SURVIVOR topped both "The Voice" and "American Idol" in viewers and key demos.

CRIMINAL MINDS
· CRIMINAL MINDS was first in viewers (10.39m), adults 25-54 (2.9/08) and adults 18-49 (2.1/06).

THE BIG BANG THEORY
· THE BIG BANG THEORY (8:00-8:31 PM) was first in viewers (14.78m), adults 25-54 (5.1/16) and adults 18-49 (3.5/13). Compared to last week, THE BIG BANG THEORY was up +6% in adults 25-54 (from 4.8/16), +3% in adults 18-49 (from 3.4/14) and added +890,000 viewers (from 13.89m, +6%). THE BIG BANG THEORY was the night's #1 program in viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.

THE ODD COUPLE
· THE ODD COUPLE (8:31-9:01 PM) was first in viewers (9.73m), adults 25-54 (3.2/09) and adults 18-49 (2.1/07). Compared to last week, THE ODD COUPLE was up +10% in adults 25-54 (from 2.9/09), +11% in adults 18-49 (from 1.9/07) and added +1.03m viewers (from 8.70m, +12%).

Prime averages are based on the following hours of rated broadcasts in Week #29

CBS - 22 hours
NBC - 22 hours
ABC - 22 hours
FOX - 16 hours

NATIONAL NIELSEN SUMMARY - PRIMETIME
Week #29 of 2014-2015 Season (ending: 4/12/15)

2014-2015

VIEWERS
(000)
CBS 10,568
NBC 6,288
ABC 5,714
FOX 3,586

A25-54
Rtg Sh
CBS 2.7 8
NBC 2.0 6
ABC 1.7 5
FOX 1.3 4

A18-49
Rtg Sh
CBS 2.1 7
NBC 1.5 5
ABC 1.3 4
FOX 1.0 3

NATIONAL NIELSEN SUMMARY - PRIMETIME

SEASON-TO-DATE RATINGS REPORT (9/22/14-4/12/15)

2014-2015

VIEWERS
(000)
CBS 11,390
NBC 8,982
ABC 7,871
FOX 6,055

A25-54
Rtg Sh
CBS 3.3 9
NBC 3.2 9
ABC 2.7 7
FOX 2.4 6

A18-49
Rtg Sh
CBS 2.4 8
NBC 2.6 8
ABC 2.2 7
FOX 2.0 6

To post a comment, you must register and login.