This year’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament has kicked off spectacularly, despite the absence of Cinderella teams. Through the second round of March Madness, CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV are averaging 9.4 million viewers per window, marking this tournament as the most-watched in 32 years and showing a 4% increase in viewership compared to this point last season (9.04 million viewers across the four networks).
However, these record-setting viewership figures come with an important caveat: this is the first tournament measured by Nielsen using its updated out-of-home methodology, which now covers 100% of U.S. markets—up from two-thirds under the previous system. This change significantly affects year-over-year comparisons and accounts for the modest increase in viewership we’ve observed this season.
TNT Sports and CBS Sports are Delivering the NCAA Tournament’s Best Viewership Since 1993, Averaging 9.4 Million Viewers Through the Second Round pic.twitter.com/mOfcKtg7wC
— March Madness Men’s Basketball TV (@MM_MBB_TV) March 25, 2025
Clearly, interest in this year’s tournament remains robust, with Sunday’s games showcasing particularly strong viewership. Marquee matchups, including Duke and Kentucky, contributed to a 13% increase from last year. The thrilling contest between Florida and UConn averaged 7.8 million viewers—making it the most-watched NCAA Tournament game in that time slot since 1998—while Duke-Baylor, following closely behind, averaged 9.6 million viewers on CBS.
Strong viewership during the tournament’s initial days dispels theories suggesting that a lack of Cinderella teams negatively impacts the audience. In fact, it may indicate the opposite, as the Sweet 16 features a lineup of high-ranking teams and traditional powerhouses, promising even larger audiences for CBS Sports and TNT Sports as we approach the second weekend of March Madness.
