2008 Final Down Slightly From 2007
Update April 8, 2008: The final drew 19.50 million viewers. Click the link for more numbers regarding the 2008 final.
Update April 15, 2008: The chart and table have been updated.
I’ve been hooked on NCAA basketball since my college days at Virginia (which started about the same time as this chart), and I’ve watched as much of the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament every year as I possibly could. However, looking at the fairly constant TV ratings of the championship game, around 30 million viewers from 1975-1994 and then the steep drop to around 20 million since 2003, I wondered what the heck happened starting in 1995? I can’t figure it out, maybe someone else out there knows something that I don’t. Give it your best shot in the comments.
Here is the full data and some additional facts:
| Year | Avg. Through Regional Finals (million) | Championship Game (million) | Finals Matchup |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 30.08 | UCLA vs KENTUCKY | |
| 1976 | 26.71 | INDIANA vs MICHIGAN | |
| 1977 | 26.40 | MARQUETTE vs NORTH CAROLINA | |
| 1978 | 25.38 | KENTUCKY vs DUKE | |
| 1979 | 35.11 | MICHIGAN ST vs INDIANA ST | |
| 1980 | no data | LOUISVILLE vs UCLA | |
| 1981 | 29.06 | INDIANA vs NORTH CAROLINA | |
| 1982 | 30.59 | NORTH CAROLINA vs GEORGETOWN | |
| 1983 | 32.14 | NC STATE vs HOUSTON | |
| 1984 | 25.14 | GEORGETOWN vs HOUSTON | |
| 1985 | 31.23 | VILLANOVA vs GEORGETOWN | |
| 1986 | 28.71 | LOUISVILLE vs DUKE | |
| 1987 | 32.06 | INDIANA vs SYRACUSE | |
| 1988 | 26.69 | KANSAS vs OKLAHOMA | |
| 1989 | 31.12 | MICHIGAN vs SETON HALL | |
| 1990 | 29.26 | UNLV vs DUKE | |
| 1991 | 29.02 | DUKE vs KANSAS | |
| 1992 | 34.31 | DUKE vs MICHIGAN | |
| 1993 | 32.94 | NORTH CAROLINA vs MICHIGAN | |
| 1994 | 32.73 | ARKANSAS vs DUKE | |
| 1995 | 27.41 | UCLA vs ARKANSAS | |
| 1996 | 26.67 | KENTUCKY vs SYRACUSE | |
| 1997 | 28.36 | ARIZONA vs KENTUCKY | |
| 1998 | 26.60 | KENTUCKY vs UTAH | |
| 1999 | 26.30 | CONNECTICUT vs DUKE | |
| 2000 | 20.59 | MICHIGAN ST vs FLORIDA | |
| 2001 | 8.0 | 23.87 | DUKE vs ARIZONA |
| 2002 | 8.5 | 23.69 | MARYLAND vs INDIANA |
| 2003 | 7.2 | 18.57 | SYRACUSE vs KANSAS |
| 2004 | 8.4 | 17.09 | CONNECTICUT vs GEORGIA TECH |
| 2005 | 9.7 | 23.90 | NORTH CAROLINA vs ILLINOIS |
| 2006 | 8.8 | 17.54 | FLORIDA vs UCLA |
| 2007 | 8.3 | 19.56 | FLORIDA vs OHIO STATE |
| 2008 | 19.50 | KANSAS vs MEMPHIS |
- NBC televised the game from 1975-1981, CBS from 1982-present.
- Since 1975, the NCAA Championship Final game has always been on a Monday night, starting between 8-9pm Eastern until 1991 since then it’s started at 9:15 Eastern every year except 1995 when it started at 8:30pm.
- 2006 & 2007 data above is Live+SD, all other data is Live viewing.
Nielsen TV Ratings Data: ©2008 Nielsen Media Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
During that same March 1995,
1) No British troops patrolled Belfast ~ maybe people were watching the news?
2) The 67th Academy Awards were held 3.27 that year. Could this have impacted it?
During that same March 1995,
1) No British troops patrolled Belfast ~ maybe people were watching the news?
2) The 67th Academy Awards were held 3.27 that year. Could this have impacted it?
same thing that hurt monday night football: overexposure of the sport.
college basketball peaks during the first weekend and selection sunday. thats when the most schools are still alive, most people are interested, everyone is still in their office pool. by the second and third weekends, its really down to the the hardcore fans and handful of people still alive in pools.
people are all “college basketballed” out and are off to focus on opening day of baseball and the nfl draft.
with so much attention to the sport these days, the national championship isn’t what it used to be. same with monday night football, as its just another game. it used to be more, but with all games on tv and the internet and espn, its not the same.
same thing that hurt monday night football: overexposure of the sport.
college basketball peaks during the first weekend and selection sunday. thats when the most schools are still alive, most people are interested, everyone is still in their office pool. by the second and third weekends, its really down to the the hardcore fans and handful of people still alive in pools.
people are all “college basketballed” out and are off to focus on opening day of baseball and the nfl draft.
with so much attention to the sport these days, the national championship isn't what it used to be. same with monday night football, as its just another game. it used to be more, but with all games on tv and the internet and espn, its not the same.
kayarn, I think you may be onto something. Perhaps when every game began to be televised on CBS [instead of just primetime games] it dulled the interest in the final game.
I’ll see if I can find out when that happened.
kayarn, I think you may be onto something. Perhaps when every game began to be televised on CBS [instead of just primetime games] it dulled the interest in the final game.
I'll see if I can find out when that happened.
Could it have something to do with low seeded teams winning? If you’re out of the office pool early, why watch? And as a Clemson alumni, I have to say I hate those blue bastards from UNC.
Could it have something to do with low seeded teams winning? If you're out of the office pool early, why watch? And as a Clemson alumni, I have to say I hate those blue bastards from UNC.
Anne Marie, I think the significant advancement of low seeded teams is hyped by the media a lot more than it actually happens. Being a numbers guy, if I can get some good data on that I will post it.
My hatred of the Tar Hells has cooled significantly since Dean Smith left. He truly was evil. I cannot get myself to hate a Roy Williams coached team to nearly the same extent.
Anne Marie, I think the significant advancement of low seeded teams is hyped by the media a lot more than it actually happens. Being a numbers guy, if I can get some good data on that I will post it.
My hatred of the Tar Hells has cooled significantly since Dean Smith left. He truly was evil. I cannot get myself to hate a Roy Williams coached team to nearly the same extent.
Bill, I agree Dean Smith was truly evil, and I am glad he’s gone. Maybe when your team has NEVER beaten Carolina at Carolina, and then they whip you in the ACC championship game, you’ll understand how I feel
Can’t wait for the NCAA tournament!!
Bill, I agree Dean Smith was truly evil, and I am glad he's gone. Maybe when your team has NEVER beaten Carolina at Carolina, and then they whip you in the ACC championship game, you'll understand how I feel
Can't wait for the NCAA tournament!!
P.S. Did Nielsen change anything about their measurements or data collection in that time frame? That would make more sense to me.
P.S. Did Nielsen change anything about their measurements or data collection in that time frame? That would make more sense to me.
Ann Marie, I know exactly how you feel. The Cavaliers had not beaten Clemson in football ever, starting in the year I was born. They finally won when I was 32.
Ann Marie, I know exactly how you feel. The Cavaliers had not beaten Clemson in football ever, starting in the year I was born. They finally won when I was 32.
the tourney used to be just conference winners, i forget exactly when they expanded to let at-large teams in, but that set-up usually limited the final four to only teams like unc, ucla, kansas, kentucky, etc.
the talent pool is so spread out these days that the power teams making the final four isnt as common. and no matter how much america love a cinderella like george mason, the numbers would much improved had a team like duke or georgetown made it.
the tourney used to be just conference winners, i forget exactly when they expanded to let at-large teams in, but that set-up usually limited the final four to only teams like unc, ucla, kansas, kentucky, etc.
the talent pool is so spread out these days that the power teams making the final four isnt as common. and no matter how much america love a cinderella like george mason, the numbers would much improved had a team like duke or georgetown made it.
kayarn, The NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, so that doesn’t seem to account for the drop beginning in the mid-90s. It could be the effects of the flight of underclassmen to the NBA. I’m not sure how to put a starting date on that though.
kayarn, The NCAA tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, so that doesn't seem to account for the drop beginning in the mid-90s. It could be the effects of the flight of underclassmen to the NBA. I'm not sure how to put a starting date on that though.
a lot also has to do with these games not being very good, but the kansas/syracuse game was a classic and that had low viewership.
so its most likely the fact that people can get their college basketball fix during the course of the regular season, the endless barrage of selection sunday coverage, the hype over the first weekend, etc. by the time championship monday roles around, the hype is long gone and the interest just isn’t there.
a lot also has to do with these games not being very good, but the kansas/syracuse game was a classic and that had low viewership.
so its most likely the fact that people can get their college basketball fix during the course of the regular season, the endless barrage of selection sunday coverage, the hype over the first weekend, etc. by the time championship monday roles around, the hype is long gone and the interest just isn't there.
You make some good points Kayarn. The ratings decrease in the finals may well be dwarfed by cumulative ratings increases, at least during the first week. Unfortunately, we don’t have historical data for that
You make some good points Kayarn. The ratings decrease in the finals may well be dwarfed by cumulative ratings increases, at least during the first week. Unfortunately, we don't have historical data for that
1995 was about the time players began staying in school only one year or bypassing college completely to go to the NBA. I used to be a die-hard college hoops fan, but now couldn’t name more than 10 players. Why? With early defections, it’s like I have to re-learn the majority of the players for some of the elite programs.
1995 was about the time players began staying in school only one year or bypassing college completely to go to the NBA. I used to be a die-hard college hoops fan, but now couldn't name more than 10 players. Why? With early defections, it's like I have to re-learn the majority of the players for some of the elite programs.
Ron, kayarn, 1995 was the year Kevin Garnett was drafted directly from high school, the first player to have that distinction.
While I’m not sure we can say that’s a statistically significant bit of data, I’m willing to go with it as being the start of the championship game ratings slide.
Ron, kayarn, 1995 was the year Kevin Garnett was drafted directly from high school, the first player to have that distinction.
While I'm not sure we can say that's a statistically significant bit of data, I'm willing to go with it as being the start of the championship game ratings slide.
Moses Malone predates KG by two decades! Of course Malone did sign a letter of intent with University of Md before bailing for the ABA (Utah drafted him) and if you don’t want to count the ABA, I suppose nobody would hold that against you.
Moses Malone predates KG by two decades! Of course Malone did sign a letter of intent with University of Md before bailing for the ABA (Utah drafted him) and if you don't want to count the ABA, I suppose nobody would hold that against you.
Indeed, Garnett was the first player drafted by the NBA
Indeed, Garnett was the first player drafted by the NBA
No, I think Daryl Dawkins was in 1975 (drafted out of high school by the Philadelphia 76ers). Though there was a 20 year hiatus after that. Actually a few players who enrolled but never played a college game snuck in (Shawn Kemp comes to mind), but I think KG was the first after Dawkins to go officially from high school to the NBA.
No, I think Daryl Dawkins was in 1975 (drafted out of high school by the Philadelphia 76ers). Though there was a 20 year hiatus after that. Actually a few players who enrolled but never played a college game snuck in (Shawn Kemp comes to mind), but I think KG was the first after Dawkins to go officially from high school to the NBA.
pure speculation, but perhaps Nielsen started measuring average viewers differently. CBS claims 40 million watched last year’s final, but the Nielsen info we get is for average viewers throughout the entire telecast.
CBS also claims that some 130 million take in at least some NCAA coverage over the course of the tourney. That’s a big deal.
pure speculation, but perhaps Nielsen started measuring average viewers differently. CBS claims 40 million watched last year's final, but the Nielsen info we get is for average viewers throughout the entire telecast.
CBS also claims that some 130 million take in at least some NCAA coverage over the course of the tourney. That's a big deal.
Speculation is what keeps us going!
Speculation is what keeps us going!
i root for temple (in for the first time since 01!!) and we rarely have players leave early.
the solution: dont root for duke, unc, etc. root for a smaller school with limited exposure and you wont have problems with kids leaving early.
i root for temple (in for the first time since 01!!) and we rarely have players leave early.
the solution: dont root for duke, unc, etc. root for a smaller school with limited exposure and you wont have problems with kids leaving early.
Okay:
I think people turn the channel for blow outs like George Mason getting clobbered in 2006 by Florida in the final four, but aren’t the Neilsen numbers higher on opening weekend?(Thursday-Sunday)?Couldn’t this be attributable to having smnaller schools included with the possibility of an upset of a higher seed?
Okay:
I think people turn the channel for blow outs like George Mason getting clobbered in 2006 by Florida in the final four, but aren't the Neilsen numbers higher on opening weekend?(Thursday-Sunday)?Couldn't this be attributable to having smnaller schools included with the possibility of an upset of a higher seed?
Wedlock, unfortunately we have no historical data other than what’s charted above. The blue line is aggregate ratings data for all games in a particular year through the regional finals. No breakout among rounds.
This year we will get some individual game data at least for the games that CBS has in primetime.
Wedlock, unfortunately we have no historical data other than what's charted above. The blue line is aggregate ratings data for all games in a particular year through the regional finals. No breakout among rounds.
This year we will get some individual game data at least for the games that CBS has in primetime.
Bottom line: basketball sucks and nobody cares.
Bottom line: basketball sucks and nobody cares.
jim, you had Georgetown in your bracket too, huh?
jim, you had Georgetown in your bracket too, huh?
I just wish we had a tournament like this in December for football.
I just wish we had a tournament like this in December for football.
kentucky got less fun to watch
Hello,
I am a researcher and would like to get the ratings for the Final-Four through the years. Any idea of how I can do that?
Thanks in advance,
Nadav
Nadav, if we have ratings for the semi-final games I will post them today or tomorrow. The numbers above are for the Championship game, which is 1/3 of the “Final Four” games.