2014 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Tips Off with Highest-Rated and Most-Viewed NCAA First Four(TM) Ever

The NCAA First Four(TM) on truTV presented by Northwestern Mutual grossed a 3.9 U.S. HH rating and 5.9 million total viewers, the highest-rated and most-viewed NCAA First Four(TM) since the current format began in 2011. The NCAA First Four(TM) is up 34% in U.S. HH rating and 32% among total viewers compared with 2013.

Last night's Iowa vs. Tennessee telecast (9:15-11:45 p.m. ET) registered the highest-rated and most-viewed NCAA First Four(TM) telecast ever - since the new format began in 2011 - generating a 1.4 U.S. HH rating and 2.2 million total viewers. The telecast peaked with a 1.6 U.S. HH rating and 2.4 million total viewers from 11-11:30 p.m.

The Iowa/Tennessee telecast surpassed Tuesday's North Carolina State vs. Xavier game, the previous highest-rated and most-viewed NCAA First Four(TM) telecast, which averaged a 1.1 U.S. HH rating and 1.7 million total viewers.

Wednesday's NCAA First Four(TM) doubleheader (March 19) averaged a 1.1 U.S. HH rating and 1.7 million total viewers to become the highest-rated and most-viewed night in the four years of the NCAA First Four(TM). The doubleheader is up 55% among total viewers and 54% in U.S. HH rating compared with the second night of the NCAA First Four(TM) last year. The doubleheader began with Cal Poly vs. Texas Southern at 6:30 p.m.

Top metered markets for the Iowa/Tennessee game were Knoxville, Nevada, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Louisville and Dayton. The highest-rated local markets for the Cal Poly-Texas Southern telecast were Knoxville, Louisville, Raleigh-Durham, Richmond and Dayton.

The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship is underway today, Thursday, March 20, with second round action airing across four national TV networks - TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV.

For the first time this year, the Final Four on Saturday, April 5, will be televised on TBS with "teamcasts" or team-specific telecasts for each game airing on TNT and truTV. The National Championship Game on Monday, April 7, will air on CBS for the 33rd consecutive year.

Source: Nielsen Media Research Fast Nationals for truTV based on Live + SD data stream for 03/19/14 compared to Day 1 historical dates of the First Four. Nielsen Social (formerly Nielsen Social Guide) 03/19/14 vs. 03/20/13, gross comment and author volume duplicate for the day not unique.