TBS Shoots Its Way to Weekly Ratings Win

For the second week in a row, TBS’s “March Madness” NCAA college basketball tournament coverage helped propel the network to a first place weekly ratings win among cable networks in primetime.

TBS averaged 3.4 million viewers during the week of March 30 – April 5, easily besting sister service TNT for top ratings honors for the period. TBS was also the top choice among adults 18-49 and all key female viewing demos, according to Nielsen.

USA finished third with an average of 1.70 million viewers while Fox News (1.69 million) and Disney Channel (1.59 million) followed closely behind.

The rest of the top 10 networks include HGTV (1.46 million); History (1.40 million); Discovery (1.18 million); ESPN (1.14 million) and TLC (1.09 million).

Disney upended Nickelodeon for the top spot on a 24-hour basis, followed by Adult Swim, TBS and Cartoon Network, according to Nielsen.

Most Watched Primetime Shows among Cable Networks During The Week of March 30-April 5

DateShowNetworkTotal Viewers

4/4                        Kentucky/Wisconsin NCAA College Basketball                              TBS                    16.7 million

4/4                        NCAA Final Four Pre-Game Show                                                 TBS                       11.5 million

4/4                        Duke-Michigan State NCAA College Basketball                            TBS                       11.1 million

4/4                        NCAA Final Four Post Game Show                                               TBS                         9.7 million

3/30                      WWE Monday Night Raw (9 to 10 p.m.)                                        USA                         5.5 million

3/30                      WWE Monday Night Raw (10 to 11:08 p.m.)                                 USA                       5.2 million

3/30                      WWE Monday Night Raw (8 to 9 p.m.)                                          USA                         5.2 million

4/4                        NCAA Final Four Post Game Show                                               TBS                        4.5 million

4/4                        Kentucky/Wisconsin NCAA College Basketball                             TNT                      4.5 million

3/30                      Comedy Central Roast                                                               Comedy Central       4.3 million

Source: Nielsen

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.