2014 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Averaging 9.2 Million Viewers; Highest Viewership in 21 Years

CBS Sports and Turner Sports' exclusive coverage of the 2014 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship - across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV - is delivering its highest viewership in 21 years (since 1993). Through its opening week, the NCAA Tournament is averaging 9,227,000 viewers, up 4% through the same period last year (8,885,000 viewers), based on Nielsen Fast Nationals.

Through its first six days, the tournament is averaging a 5.9/13 U.S. HH rating/share, up 2% over a 5.8/12 U.S. HH rating/share to date in 2013. The 5.9/13 U.S. HH rating/share is tied with 1998 as the highest rating for the opening week of the tournament in 17 years (since 1997).

This year's NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship has netted audience growth through each stage - the First Four, second and third rounds.

NCAA Tournament action will continue with the Regional Semifinals on Thursday, March 27, and Friday, March 28 (7:00 PM-12:00 AM, ET) with all games available in their entirety on TBS and CBS. Coverage will begin both nights with the Infiniti NCAA Tip-Off pregame show at 6 p.m. on TBS.

Source: Nielsen Media Research, Fast Nationals, Live +SD data stream through Round 3 of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. 3/18/14 to 03/23/14 vs. 03/19/13 to 03/24/13. 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011 averages based on weighted average of 4 telecast gross across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. Historical audiences, CBS 1991 through 2005 based on Live data.