CBS continues a very good start to 2010 as the ratings for its sports programming continue to bring eyeballs to the TV set. Last night’s NCAA Final Four rated 8% higher than last year’s and this is even with a pretty brutal first game between Butler and Michigan State and a second half blowout between Duke and West Virginia. CBS has to believe that the National Championship game between Butler and Duke will do well with a David vs. Goliath matchup. Here’s the short press release:
CBS SPORTS’ COVERAGE OF 2010 FINAL FOUR SCORES RATINGS SLAM DUNK
Highest-Rated Final Four in Five Years
CBS Sports’ coverage of the Final Four on Saturday, April 3 earned an average overnight household rating/share of 9.7/19, up +8% from a 9.0/18 last year. The 9.7/19 is the highest average rating for the Final Four since a 10.9/19 in 2005.The first game (6:00-8:30 PM, ET), with Butler beating Michigan State, earned an average overnight household rating/share of 9.4/20, up +8% versus an 8.7/18 in 2009 (Michigan St.-Connecticut). This 9.4/20 is the highest rating in the window since a 9.5/19 in 2006 (Florida-George Mason).The second game (9:00-11:15 PM, ET), featuring Duke’s victory over West Virginia delivered a 10.0/18, up +8% from 9.3/17 last year (North Carolina-Villanova). This 10.0/18 is the best rating in the window since an 11.4/19 in 2005 (North Carolina-Michigan State).CBS Sports’ overall average overnight household rating/share for the tournament-to-date is a 6.2/13, up +2% compared to last year’s 6.1/13.
CNBC’s Darren Rovell predicts a Duke-Butler matchup will be the lowest rated Championship Game ever, but I think with Duke having a national following and Butler drawing interest, I think it will do rather well.
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