CBS and TBS saw a sharp ratings drop for coverage of the NCAA men's regional finals on Saturday and Sunday. The nets averaged a 6.0 overnight rating for the four NCAA Tournament games, down 25% from an 8.0 overnight last year. There was a swap in windows this year, with CBS taking the two Saturday windows and TBS taking the two Sunday windows, which also fell on Easter this year. TBS games yesterday also moved from what had been late afternoon starts to primetime windows, which forced them to compete with original episodes on several nets. Helping last year's record-setting numbers was the Notre Dame-Kentucky game on TBS, which had UK still looking to remain undefeated. CBS last year also saw its best early Sunday afternoon rating in 22 years with Michigan State-Louisville. The top-rated game from this year's Elite 8 was CBS' Villanova-Kansas game in the late window on Saturday night with a 7.4 overnight.
SWEET & SOUR: Through the Sweet 16 on Thursday and Friday, this year's tourney remains the sixth-best audience in the last 22 years. Viewership is down 10% compared to the record-setting figures last year across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. Blowouts also have been part of the storyline for this year's tourney, including six of the eight Sweet 16 matchups (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
EASTER EGG: In K.C., Pete Grathoff noted CBS' Kevin Harlan "made a holiday-specific" call at the conclusion of Syracuse's comeback win over Virginia yesterday. He said, "Jim Boeheim and Syracuse have done it. Back from the dead on Easter Sunday." Grathoff noted there was "some outrage," but most people "didn't have a problem with the call" (KANSASCITY.com, 3/27). WQAM-AM's Orlando Alzugaray: "We're just too sensitive." The N.Y. Post's Harrison Goodman: "Just wait until Passover when Kevin Harlan says LeBron has led the Cavs out of the first round like Moses led the Jews out of Egypt."
VETERAN LEADERSHIP: In N.Y., Phil Mushnick noted CBS' Bob Fishman is in his 40th year at the net and is "directing his 35th NCAA Tournament." He will "direct the championship game" again this year. Fishman’s basketball telecasts are "discernible for his obvious eyes-on, mind-on dedication to providing us with what live sports TV should: the best seat in the house." Fishman telecasts "rarely leave us unanswered questions," and "never do they cause us anguish for being stuck watching the wrong thing at the wrong-to-worst time" (N.Y. POST, 3/27).
BLIND EYE: Mushnick notes CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson asked Villanova coach Jay Wright following the team's win over Kansas, "What does it mean for you and this program to get back (to the Final Four)?" Mushnick: "Really? Wright said it means a lot." Meanwhile, CBS' "endlessly promoted NCAA Tournament app has been loaded with misinformation, from bogus game-start alerts to 'Upset Alerts' in which the favored teams are winning" (N.Y. POST, 3/28).
