We're not talking about women's basketball. We're talking ALL basketball -- Men's Final Four, NBA Finals, Olympics, whatever. 19 million viewers for the championship game.

Caitlin Clark was the biggest factor in this, of course, and she's gone from college, but watch out for women's basketball as a TV draw.

They're talking about assigning units for the women's NCAA Tournament next year and paying money to the schools.

imagine audience size had it been aired in prime time ...

BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR

(04-08-2024 04:01 PM)Hallcity Wrote:  We're not talking about women's basketball. We're talking ALL basketball -- Men's Final Four, NBA Finals, Olympics, whatever. 19 million viewers for the championship game.

Caitlin Clark was the biggest factor in this, of course, and she's gone from college, but watch out for women's basketball as a TV draw.

They're talking about assigning units for the women's NCAA Tournament next year and paying money to the schools.

Some where in Storres, Ct. an angel got it's wings.

I wonder how much was wagered on the women's tourney, and what effect that may have had on the overall numbers.

From Sports Media Watch:

Quote:… Monday’s UConn-Purdue NCAA men’s basketball national championship averaged a 7.6 rating and 14.82 million viewers across TBS (7.40M), TNT (6.20M) and truTV (1.22M) — down 3% in ratings but up 1% in viewership from UConn-San Diego State on CBS last year (7.8, 14.7M). The Huskies’ ho-hum win ranks as the lowest rated national title game on record, but topped the all-time viewership low set last year.

For the first time, the men’s national championship was outdrawn by the women’s title game. Iowa-South Carolina averaged a 9.3 and 18.89 million across ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes the previous day, making it the most-watched basketball game of any kind since 2019. After topping the women’s title game by 48% last year — and triple-figures in all prior years — the men’s title game trailed by 21% this season. …

This year also marks the first time that neither the national championship nor national semifinals were the most-watched game of the men’s tournament, as NC State-Duke in the Elite Eight finished in the top spot with 15.14 million. That Elite Eight game aired on Easter Sunday, a day associated with higher viewing levels in the out-of-home era. …

(04-09-2024 08:21 PM)Hallcity Wrote:  This year also marks the first time that neither the national championship nor national semifinals were the most-watched game of the men’s tournament, as NC State-Duke in the Elite Eight finished in the top spot with 15.14 million. That Elite Eight game aired on Easter Sunday, a day associated with higher viewing levels in the out-of-home era.

ucon cant draw ...

HUMBLE BRAG

(04-09-2024 08:42 PM)green Wrote:  

(04-09-2024 08:21 PM)Hallcity Wrote:  This year also marks the first time that neither the national championship nor national semifinals were the most-watched game of the men’s tournament, as NC State-Duke in the Elite Eight finished in the top spot with 15.14 million. That Elite Eight game aired on Easter Sunday, a day associated with higher viewing levels in the out-of-home era.

ucon cant draw ...

HUMBLE BRAG

When you destroy the Big10 champ by 30 points and the second overall seed by 15( UConn was never in doubt in title game), people change the channel. Unless you are a UConn fan or a really big bball fan. It’s not UConn’s fault we ran over everyone by 15+ for 2 years straight.

(04-13-2024 08:03 AM)mike012779 Wrote:  

(04-09-2024 08:42 PM)green Wrote:  

(04-09-2024 08:21 PM)Hallcity Wrote:  This year also marks the first time that neither the national championship nor national semifinals were the most-watched game of the men’s tournament, as NC State-Duke in the Elite Eight finished in the top spot with 15.14 million. That Elite Eight game aired on Easter Sunday, a day associated with higher viewing levels in the out-of-home era.

ucon cant draw ...

HUMBLE BRAG

When you destroy the Big10 champ by 30 points and the second overall seed by 15( UConn was never in doubt in title game), people change the channel. Unless you are a UConn fan or a really big bball fan. It’s not UConn’s fault we ran over everyone by 15+ for 2 years straight.

ucon games were relegated to cable (tru tv/tbs) ...
acc games were prioritized on broadcast (cbs) ...

TOURNEY FAVORITE

Ok. We won back to back titles 12 games, and not one of them was close in the second half. We overwhelmed our opponent in each game. 30 point victories don’t sell as well on tv. If anything we can guess UConn itself can pull a rating of 14 on tv. Since only UConn fans were watching. Now if they played someone like Duke in the title game and it was close the title game would have a rating of 30 million.