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

Nielsen data shows the men's tournament averaged 10.3 million viewers through the Elite Eight, the best audience since 1993 and a 9% increase over last year. Highlights included a 13.4‑million audience for UConn’s 73‑72 win over Duke and a peak of 18.9 million when Braylon Mullins hit a last‑second 3‑pointer. Friday’s early regional window drew 14.2 million viewers, the most‑watched Friday region since 1992. The Final Four and title game will air on TBS, TNT and truTV.

The women's tournament on ESPN and ABC averaged 789,000 viewers through the Sweet 16, down 1% from last year. Ratings for Sunday and Monday regional finals are expected Wednesday.