It’s March Madness for some, but for others, it’s the Sicko Olympics. While some enjoy the NCAA Tournament at a leisurely pace—flipping through games, taking breaks for dinner, or even going for evening strolls—others are absorbed in the action from morning till night. Those who treat March Madness as a sport unto itself belong to a truly elite category.
According to Fox Sports analytics expert Michael Mulvihill, citing data from audience measurement firm Nielsen, around 3,000 people have watched at least one minute of all 48 NCAA men’s basketball tournament games played so far.
According to Nielsen data, approximately 3000 people watched at least one minute of all 48 March Madness first and second round games.
Congratulations to these American heroes.
— Michael Mulvihill (@mulvihill79) March 26, 2025
While many aspire to achieve such dedication, it’s one thing to wish for it and another to actually do it. Per Nielsen, this year’s tournament’s first two rounds have set a viewership record. CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV averaged a combined 9.4 million viewers per window during the tournament’s first weekend, marking a 32-year high. In other words, about .0003% of the audience at any given time last weekend were committed to tuning into every game. We’re talking about the elite of the elite here. As Mulvihill aptly stated, “Congratulations to these American heroes.”
