CBS, TNT Sports record highest-rated opening day in NCAA Tournament history
March Madness is alive and well. Just ask the NCAA Tournament’s television partners. According to Nielsen, CBS and TNT Sports set ratings records on Thursday, March 19, the first full day of the tournament.
Ultimately, the 16 Round of 64…
March Madness is alive and well. Just ask the NCAA Tournament’s television partners. According to Nielsen, CBS and TNT Sports set ratings records on Thursday, March 19, the first full day of the tournament.
Ultimately, the 16 Round of 64 games on CBS, TNT, TBS and truTV averaged 9. 8 million viewers, up 6 percent from 2025. Also, the prime-time window, led by Michigan-Howard on CBS and North Carolina-VCU on TNT, averaged 12.
5 million viewers. MORE: 2026 Sweet 16 TV schedule, game times & dates for NCAA Tournament Both viewership numbers set NCAA Tournament records for an opening day. The X account March Madness Men’s Basketball TV posted about the ratings on Monday, March 23.