CBS SPORTS SCORES IN RATINGS FOR 2010 NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

National Championship Game Rating Ties as Best in 11 Years

Duke-Butler Thriller Up 34% From Last Year's Championship

CBS Sports' exclusive coverage of the 2010 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship Game on Monday, April 5 (9:15-11:45 PM, ET) earned an average overnight household rating/share of 16.0/25, up 34% compared to last year's 11.9/19 (North Carolina-Michigan State) in the metered markets.

The 16.0/25 rating/share tied with a 16.0/23 in 2005 (North Carolina-Illinois) as the highest rating in the metered markets for the NCAA National Championship game since a 16.9/25 in 1999 (Connecticut-Duke).

The game rating peaked at a 20.3/35 from 11:30-11:45 PM, ET.

CBS Sports' average overnight household rating/share for the overall Tournament was a 6.6/14, up 5% compared to last year's 6.3/13 in the metered markets.

The 6.6/14 overall average rating tied with 2007 as the highest overall average rating for the NCAA Tournament since a 7.3/14 in 2005.

CBS SPORTS' 2010 NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME VIEWERSHIP HIGHEST IN 13 YEARS

48.1 Million Viewers Tune In to All-or-Part of Duke's Epic Win

Overall NCAA Tournament Average Up 5% from 2009

CBS Sports' exclusive coverage of the 2010 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship game on Monday, April 5 (9:15-11:41 PM, ET) scored in viewers as Nielsen Media Research reports that 48.1 million viewers (Persons 2+) watched all-or-part of CBS Sports' coverage of Duke defeating Butler, an increase of +17% vs. 41.2 million in 2009 (North Carolina-Michigan State)

The 48.1 million viewers is the highest number of viewers to watch all-or-part of the Championship game in 13 years when 50.0 million tuned in for the game between Arizona and Kentucky in 1997.

CBS Sports' broadcast of the Championship game earned an average fast national live + same day household rating/share of 14.2/23, up 31% from a 10.8/18 last year. The 14.2/23 is the highest rating since a 15.0/23 in 2005 (North Carolina-Illinois).

CBS Sports' overall tournament averaged a national household rating/share of a 6.0/13, up 5% compared to last year's 5.7/12.

Nielsen Media Research reports that 134.3 millions viewers watched all-or-part of CBS Sports' coverage of the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship, up 4% from 128.9 million viewers last year. This year's 134.3 millions viewers is the highest number of viewers to watch all-or-part of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship on CBS since 141.7 million viewers in 2005.