Sparking unparalleled enthusiasm on CBS Sports and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) platforms, the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) men’s March Madness basketball tournament made an explosive debut that broke audience records.
Fans watched the action of the tournament glued to their TVs for three days straight, shattering previous watching records and raising the bar for athletic events. The tournament’s opening moments enthralled viewers throughout the country with a dynamic show of ability, strategy, and sheer tenacity, confirming March Madness as the greatest spectacle in collegiate athletics.
The NCAA men’s basketball tournament reached a historic turning point on March 23rd when viewership reached previously unheard-of levels and captured the hearts of 10.8 million spectators on TBS, CBS, TNT, and TruTV. It was the most watched first day of the second round in the history of the competition because of this incredible crowd.
March Madness – Beyond all expectations
Beyond all expectations, the coverage of the tournament as a whole has been phenomenal, with an average of nine million viewers thus far. The thrill of the first day of the second round continues to build with every game, making this season the most-watched NCAA men’s tournament ever.
March Madness this year has gotten off to a great start, drawing large crowds from the outset. While it is not as high as the highs of 2021 and 2022, the First Four managed to get an amazing 6.18 million viewers on TruTV, an 18% increase from 2023.
Interestingly, the total number of viewers for the First Four and the first round action on Thursday on TBS, CBS, TNT, and TruTV hit a record high since 2014, evoking the glory days of the old format. Additionally, with an average of 8.5 million viewers, the first round’s opening day on March 21st was the most watched since 2015. It’s evident that March Madness’s appeal is still strong, drawing viewers in and solidifying its place as a top.
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