Overnight ratings for CBS's weekend coverage of the NCAA
Tournament in Nielsen's 33 metered markets. Coverage was
regional (Nielsen Sports Marketing Service):
MARCH 15 MARCH 16 MARCH 17
Game 1 3.2 5.1 5.2
Game 2 3.8 5.8 7.0
Game 3 5.5 6.9 7.2
Game 4 5.3 6.0 --
CBS's Len DeLuca told USA TODAY that the 5.0 overall rating,
up just .10 from last year's numbers -- "were tracking exactly as
we expected." DeLuca added that no competition from Michael
Jordan on NBC's NBA coverage -- unlike last year -- was "nice"
(USA TODAY, 3/18).
FROM THE PEANUT GALLERY: Overall, media critics applaud
CBS's coverage. In Washington, Leonard Shapiro writes, "In its
fourth year of juggling the entire 64-team tournament, CBS has
worked out many of the kinks" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/17). In
Atlanta, Prentis Rogers calls the coverage "very efficient," and
notes that the network's allowance of more analysis between games
has "created an even better flow, not to mention giving viewers a
clearer sense of the big picture" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION,
3/18)....In Baltimore, Milton Kent calls the production "steady,
if not spectacular" (Baltimore SUN, 3/18). In Boston, Jack Craig
lauds the network's commentators, but notes that "it seems like"
CBS is spending more than the reported 12 minutes per hour on
commercials (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/17).
