Kentucky-Notre Dame Telecast Sets TBS Ratings Record

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

TBS’s Kentucky-Notre Dame NCAA college basketball tournament game telecast Saturday night drew a network record 14.7 million total viewers, the network announced Sunday.

The game, which saw Kentucky keep its undefeated season alive with a narrow win over the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame to reach the tournament’s Final Four round, peaked at 19.7 million viewers between 10:45 p.m. and 11 p.m. (ET), according to Nielsen.  

The game also stands as the most watched college basketball ever on cable television, according to the network.

Coverage of last night’s games – TBS' Kentucky/Notre Dame and Wisconsin/Arizona telecasts – delivered the highest average viewership and rating for the Saturday Regional Finals in 10 years (since 2005), averaging 11.7 million viewers, up 34% from 2014, and a 6.8/13 rating/share, up 33% from last year, according to network officials.    

Overall, the CBS/Turner Sports coverage of the 2015 ‘March Madness’ tournament is delivering its highest average viewership in 22 years, averaging 9 million total viewers through last night’s telecasts, based on Nielsen Fast national audience data.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.