March Madness 2011 Ratings Are Best In 20 Years

The first big televised day of March Madness drew the highest ratings for the tournament in 20 years.

The games, which were broadcast on CBS, TNT, TruTV and TBS, drew a combined 5.7 overnight rating--the highest since 1991. The ratings were also up 24% from the 2010 broadcast. CBS drew 9.6 million viewers for the prime time broadcasts, giving it a wide lead in the network ratings.

For complete March Madness 2011 coverage, click over to our continuously updated live blog.

Comments

[Charlie Ball 33]

03:22 PM on 03/21/2011

Finally they have a fan-friendly format, instead of that monopolized excuse for coverage CBS used to provide. You couldn't even watch a complete game in the old format due to cutaways.

[uniquindividual]

01:26 AM on 03/21/2011

The average american is poorer than they have been in quite a few years. TV is cheep.

http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3220

[Johnd139]

10:44 PM on 03/20/2011

Simply put,it beats the war(s)

[KJLSanDiego]

03:27 PM on 03/20/2011

SDSU!
Sweet Sixteen, baby!
Woo hoo!
So stoked for Thursday!
Time to defeat U Con and go to the elite eight!

[DHWRD]

10:38 AM on 03/20/2011

Big Ratings lend to Big Dollars and that lends to richer colleges, richer College Presidents, richer Athletic Directors, richer Coaches and players who can't take $5 to get a sandwich without losing their eligibility as a amateur athlete (?).

[Fabini]

07:04 AM on 03/20/2011

The accompanying photo is spectacular. Congratulations and thank you to the photographer, you captured this annual struggle perfectly.

[lodger16x]

04:52 AM on 03/20/2011

The key to this story is , "combined ratings".All games should have ben availabe on different stations years ago.
 Once again, the Hollyweed CEO's prove that they could be replaced by any typical TV, movie or sports fan.

[FarOutFish]

02:34 AM on 03/20/2011

"I hate all sports as rabidly as a person who likes sports hates common sense." H. L. Mencken

[lodger16x]

04:54 AM on 03/20/2011

I like HL Mencken, but if he was around today, I'm pretty sure 90% of his sharp wit would be reserved for Wall St, K ST, and the Beltway.

[GarryK]

04:12 PM on 03/19/2011

Duh. They'd been doing it all wrong for 20 years. Hooray that they finally got it right!

[NextYearLions]

12:32 PM on 03/19/2011

Go Michigan!!! We beat the Vols by 30! and hopefully we can beat Duke too!

[AnnfromCA]

11:20 AM on 03/19/2011

Yeah for March Madness.  An annual treat for me.

[me again]

07:40 AM on 03/19/2011

I'll tell you why, it is overbroadcast on too many stations......if you look at the bang for the buck, it may not be so good.

[AnnfromCA]

11:20 AM on 03/19/2011

It's odd, isn't it?  I don't expect to have to hunt around.  This year, though, it really is different.

[RobbyCanuck]

06:50 AM on 03/19/2011

There are more Canadians playing in the Tournament this year than ever. Must be the reason!

[Fabini]

07:06 AM on 03/20/2011

Basketball eh! No goalie!

[indjoe]

01:43 AM on 03/19/2011

BEATS THE 24 7 OBAMA BASHING ON FOXS AND
THAT NOT HARD.

[Bon1042]

01:26 AM on 03/19/2011

I DO like college basketball.... did anyone watch the Memphis/Arizona game today?? Memphis made one backward (somehow) shot at net in last part of second period that brought me out of my chair.