The NCAA Tournament is averaging a 6.4 fast-national rating and 10.12 millions across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV to date, marking the tourney's best figures through the Elite Eight since '93. This year's audience is up 3% compared to the same period in '14 (9.86 million viewers). Louisville leads all markets with a 25.7 local rating for tourney games, followed by Dayton at a 16.6 rating. Rounding out the top five markets are Raleigh-Durham (15.9), Cincinnati (15.8) and Final Four host market Indianapolis (15.4) (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).
LAYERS OF THE ONIONS: USA TODAY’s George Schroeder writes Bill Raftery’s “ascent to the top analyst’s job at 73 has been greeted with nearly universal approval.” Schroeder: “The question, then, is simple: Why hasn’t this happened sooner?” Raftery this year was assigned to call his first Final Four "only after Greg Anthony was arrested" in January and "charged with soliciting a prostitute.” If not for that event, Raftery would “still be sitting a few seats down on press row, calling the games on radio” and to “hear him tell it, he'd be OK with that.” Raftery said of the Final Four, “I never coveted it or had any idea it would happen.” Schroeder writes while Raftery, Jim Nantz and Grant Hill have called games together "only since the Big Ten tournament, there have been plenty of light moments.” Nantz said, “I can't remember laughing this much on the air. I've enjoyed every single second of it.” CBS Sports Chair Sean McManus said, "It's not looked at as a one-year stopgap. I hope this is the team for many years into the future.” Schroeder wrote Raftery's promotion also has “given CBS and Turner a way to take the spotlight off of Anthony's suspension" (USA TODAY, 3/31).
BREAK UP THE LOVE FEST: In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes under the header, “Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski The Darling Of Final Four Coaches.” Broadcasters like Raftery and Nantz for years “have been oiling the star-making machinery with majestic hype and hyperbole," and Raftery "again turned into 1-800-Flowers as Duke was taking down Gonzaga" in the Elite Eight on Sunday. Raftery during the broadcast said, "Mike Krzyzewski, rejuvenated. The Ponce de Leon of college (basketball). ... Coaching these kids has energized him." CBS cameras after the game “were more fixated on Krzyzewski than his players as he shook hands with the opponent.” Meanwhile, Raissman wonders if Kentucky coach John Calipari's PR staff delivers stuff "directly to CBS/Turner voices” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/31).
