Men's March Madness is experiencing a surge in TV ratings not seen in over 30 years, despite a largely predictable bracket thus far.
Nielsen ratings reveal that through the first two rounds, the NCAA tournament is averaging 9.4 million viewers per game across CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV—the highest average through the round of 32 since 1993.
The tournament kicked off with a record-breaking opening day, culminating in a first round that averaged 8.8 million viewers per game—a 2% increase from 2024 and the highest ever under the traditional Thursday-to-Friday opening format. The second round, airing Saturday and Sunday, drew an average of 10.2 million viewers, a 3% uptick from last year and the most-watched round of 32 since 2017.
The peak viewership window came late Sunday afternoon, when 15.3 million viewers tuned in for a slate headlined by Kentucky’s 84–75 triumph over Illinois.
Nielsen’s inclusion of out-of-home viewership—such as at bars and restaurants—began in 2020 and has expanded since, contributing to the boosted numbers.
The Sweet 16 tips off Thursday night with four matchups, spotlighting two No. 1 vs. No. 4 clashes. Maryland aims to upset Florida at 7:39 p.m. ET on TBS and truTV, followed by a heavyweight showdown between Arizona and Duke at 9:39 p.m. ET on CBS.
For the women, the Sweet 16 will take place on March 28-29, hosted in two regional locations: Birmingham, Alabama, and Spokane, Washington. The Elite Eight follows on March 30-31 at the same sites. The Final Four is scheduled for April 4 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, with the national championship game set for April 6, airing on ABC.
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