CBS/Turner Sports NCAA Tourney Ratings Highest in 23 Years

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The average overnight ratings through the first week of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on CBS and Turner Sports is averaging 6.3, the highest opening week overnight rating for the tournament in 23 years.  The number is 5% higher than 2012.

Sunday’s third round combined rating was 7.6, up 19% over last year, and the highest in 20 years.

From CBS and Turner Sports PR, here is a breakdown of the numbers from Sunday’s telecasts:

The first daytime telecast window (12:00-2:45 p.m. ET) averaged a 5.4/13, the highest rating for the window since 2002 (5.8/13) and an increase of 26% over last year’s 4.3/11.

The second daytime telecast window (3:00-5:15 p.m.) averaged a 7.2/15, tied with 2007 as the highest rating for the window since 2006 (7.5/16) and up 20% over last year’s 6.0/13.

The first primetime telecast window (5:15-9:15 p.m.) averaged an 11.8/22, the highest rating for the window since 1991’s 12.1/24 and a 26% increase over a 9.4/18 in 2012.

The second primetime window (8:00 p.m.-12:15 a.m.) averaged a 6.5/11, up 2% vs. a 6.4/10 in 2012.

UPDATE:  The final national numbers are in and the rating for the first week of the tournament came in at 5.8, up 7% from 2012 and the highest in 15 years.  The combined average audience for the week was 8.9 million viewers, up 9% over last year and the highest in 20 years.  Sunday’s national rating was 7.1, up 27% over last year.