2014 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Averaging 9.3 Million Total Viewers; Highest Viewership in 21 Years

Turner Sports and CBS 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 last night (Thursday, March 27), the NCAA Tournament is averaging 9.3 million total viewers, up 3% through the same period last year (9.0 million total viewers), based on Nielsen Fast Nationals.

The tournament is averaging a 6.0/13 U.S. HH rating/share, up 2% over a 5.9/12 to date in 2013. The 6.0/13 U.S. HH rating/share is the highest rating to date for the tournament in 16 years (6.1/14 rating in 1998).

NCAA Tournament action continues with coverage of the Regional Semifinals tonight, Friday, March 28 (7:00 PM.-12:00 AM, ET) with all games available in their entirety on TBS and CBS. Coverage will begin with the Infiniti NCAA Tip-Off pregame show at 6:00 PM, ET on TBS.

This weekend's Regional Finals will feature Florida vs. Dayton on Saturday, March 29 at 6:09 PM, ET followed by Arizona vs. Wisconsin at 8:49 PM, ET on TBS, the first time the Elite Eight will be televised on cable. CBS will exclusively broadcast Sunday's Regional Final coverage with game coverage beginning at 2:00 PM, ET.

Source: Nielsen Media Research, Fast Nationals, Live +SD data stream through Sweet 16 Thursday of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. 3/18/14 to 03/27/14 vs. 03/19/13 to 03/28/13. 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.