Iowa and star Caitlin Clark delivered the largest early round audience on record for the women’s NCAA Tournament.
Sunday’s Iowa-Georgia NCAA women’s basketball tournament second round game averaged a 0.8 rating and 1.46 million viewers on ABC, marking the largest first or second round tournament audience on record. Ratings increased 56% and viewership 71% from South Carolina-Miami in the same window last year (0.54, 842K).
Earlier in the day, South Carolina-USF drew a 0.7 and 1.14 million — up 3% and 15% respectively from Creighton’s upset of Iowa last year (0.64, 993K).
In other second round action, ESPN averaged 943,000 viewers for UConn-Baylor and 783,000 for Louisville-Texas Monday night — down 17 and 5 percent respectively from the equivalent windows last year (UConn-USF: 1.14M; Tennessee-Belmont: 825K). Both games overlapped with Miami’s upset of Indiana on ESPN2, which surged 79% from last year to 878,000 viewers.
Earlier Monday, Ohio State’s narrow win over North Carolina averaged 704,000 (+30%).
Returning to Sunday, ESPN’s four games each increased by double-digits, with the final three each up by well over 60 percent. Mississippi’s upset of Stanford averaged a 0.38 and 665,000, up 65% in ratings and 81% in viewership from Stanford-Kansas a year ago (0.23, 368K). It was preceded by LSU-Michigan at a 0.35 and 676,000, up 75% and 104% respectively (vs. Louisville-Gonzaga: 0.20, 332K).
In the afternoon windows, Arizona-Maryland drew a 0.29 (+81%) and 497,000 (+96%) and Mississippi State-Notre Dame a 0.3 (+35%) and 403,000 (+46%).
Overall, the first and second rounds of the tournament have averaged 398,000 viewers per game, up 28% from last year.
First round coverage Friday and Saturday averaged 257,000 (+27%), with ABC’s two games leading the way despite year-over-year declines. Tennessee-Saint Louis averaged a 0.42 (-11%) and 639,000 (-17%) and UConn-Vermont a 0.40 (-5%) and 636,000 (-8%). The top first round game on cable was Iowa-Southeast Louisiana on Friday afternoon at a 0.31 and 560,000 on ESPN, up sharply from Iowa-Illinois State a year ago (0.19, 292K).
www.sportsmediawatch.com
Sunday’s Iowa-Georgia NCAA women’s basketball tournament second round game averaged a 0.8 rating and 1.46 million viewers on ABC, marking the largest first or second round tournament audience on record. Ratings increased 56% and viewership 71% from South Carolina-Miami in the same window last year (0.54, 842K).
Earlier in the day, South Carolina-USF drew a 0.7 and 1.14 million — up 3% and 15% respectively from Creighton’s upset of Iowa last year (0.64, 993K).
In other second round action, ESPN averaged 943,000 viewers for UConn-Baylor and 783,000 for Louisville-Texas Monday night — down 17 and 5 percent respectively from the equivalent windows last year (UConn-USF: 1.14M; Tennessee-Belmont: 825K). Both games overlapped with Miami’s upset of Indiana on ESPN2, which surged 79% from last year to 878,000 viewers.
Earlier Monday, Ohio State’s narrow win over North Carolina averaged 704,000 (+30%).
Returning to Sunday, ESPN’s four games each increased by double-digits, with the final three each up by well over 60 percent. Mississippi’s upset of Stanford averaged a 0.38 and 665,000, up 65% in ratings and 81% in viewership from Stanford-Kansas a year ago (0.23, 368K). It was preceded by LSU-Michigan at a 0.35 and 676,000, up 75% and 104% respectively (vs. Louisville-Gonzaga: 0.20, 332K).
In the afternoon windows, Arizona-Maryland drew a 0.29 (+81%) and 497,000 (+96%) and Mississippi State-Notre Dame a 0.3 (+35%) and 403,000 (+46%).
Overall, the first and second rounds of the tournament have averaged 398,000 viewers per game, up 28% from last year.
First round coverage Friday and Saturday averaged 257,000 (+27%), with ABC’s two games leading the way despite year-over-year declines. Tennessee-Saint Louis averaged a 0.42 (-11%) and 639,000 (-17%) and UConn-Vermont a 0.40 (-5%) and 636,000 (-8%). The top first round game on cable was Iowa-Southeast Louisiana on Friday afternoon at a 0.31 and 560,000 on ESPN, up sharply from Iowa-Illinois State a year ago (0.19, 292K).
Iowa's win over UGA hits early round mark for women's tourney
Iowa and star Caitlin Clark delivered the largest early round audience for the women's NCAA Tournament in well over a decade.
www.sportsmediawatch.com
