Ratings Roundup is a rundown of recent rating news and is derived from press releases and reports around the industry. In this week\u2019s edition, \u2018Inside Out Classic\u2019 animated NHL game up 74% from last year\u2019s animated alt-cast; ESPN sees 9.9 million viewers for final round of NCAA Women\u2019s March Madness tournament; and more.<\/p>\n
TNT Sports &\u00a0CBS Sports Deliver Most Watched NCAA Men\u2019s Basketball National Championship Game in Seven Years with 18.3 Million Viewers on TBS, TNT and truTV<\/p>\n
CBS Sports and TNT Sports\u2019\u00a0coverage of Monday\u2019s National Championship Game \u2014 Michigan defeating UConn on TBS, TNT, truTV and HBO Max \u2014 averaged 18.3 million viewers, the most watched Championship Game since 2019. It was also the most-watched National Championship Game ever on TNT Sports, garnering a 23% increase vs. 2024 Championship Game on TNT Sports\u00a0platforms. The telecast peaked with 20.4 million viewers from 11-11:15 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n
The 2026 Men\u2019s Final Four averaged 14.2 million viewers, up 11% vs. 2024. Coverage included the Fab Five altcast during the Michigan-Arizona game, which was trending on social media throughout the night and delivered the most watched altcast on TNT Sports in eight years.<\/p>\n
TNT Sports and CBS Sports\u2019\u00a0combined coverage of the 2026 NCAA Division I Men\u2019s Basketball Championship set new marks across all platforms, including delivering the second most watched tournament since 1994 and culminating with the most watched in seven years.<\/p>\n
Overall, the 2026 NCAA Tournament across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV averaged 10.9 million viewers, up 7% vs. last year, and the second-most watched Tournament since 1994.<\/p>\n
CBS Sports and TNT Sports set new marks throughout this year\u2019s tournament, including the most watched First Four under the traditional format, the most watched First Round ever, and the most watched Second Round since 1993, as well as registering increases in every Sweet 16 and Elite 8 game window.<\/p>\n
The 2026 NCAA Men\u2019s Tournament smashed records across social platforms, collectively setting a new all-time mark for NCAA Tournament content views by a wide margin with nearly 4 billion total views, up 191% vs. 2025.<\/p>\n
March Madness\u00a0men\u2019s\u00a0basketball accounts generated 1.4 billion content views, up a whopping 189% vs. 2025 and a new all-time NCAA Men\u2019s Tournament record for the brand. Bleacher Report and House of Highlights also drew another 1.3 billion content views of NCAA Tournament content, setting a new all-time mark for those platforms.<\/p>\n
NCAA, March Madness, Elite 8, Sweet 16, First Four, Final Four and Road to the Final Four are trademarks owned or licensed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.\u00a0<\/p>\n
ESPN Heats Up Q1 with Record Prime Time, Decade\u2011Best Viewership<\/p>\n
Driven by widespread fan engagement and a robust slate of live sports and studio programs, ESPN closed the first quarter of 2026 with one of its strongest viewing performances of the past decade, including its largest Nielsen Q1 prime time average audience on record.<\/p>\n
Large audiences for the NFL Divisional Round game, the College Football Playoff National Championship, women\u2019s and men\u2019s college basketball, NHL games and more were among the factors contributing to ESPN\u2019s strong first quarter viewership. In addition, many of ESPN\u2019s signature studio shows enjoyed their most-viewed Q1 on record.<\/p>\n
On its primary network, in prime time (8-11 p.m. ET), ESPN averaged 2.5M viewers, a 10% year-over-year increase and ESPN\u2019s largest prime time average on record. ESPN had an average minute audience of 937K during the three months, an 8% increase compared to last year and the network\u2019s best first-quarter average since 2017.<\/p>\n
ESPN\u2019s total day viewership superlatives in Nielsen Q1 were enhanced by:<\/p>\n
January viewership was up 12% year-over-year and was ESPN\u2019s second-best month on record, trailing only January 2015.
ESPN had its largest February average since 2019.
March was up 7% year-over-year and was ESPN\u2019s best March since 2019.<\/p>\n
More Nielsen Q1 Success<\/p>\n
Across ESPN and ESPN on ABC combined, total viewership reached 154.6B minutes, up 7% year-over-year and ranking as the best first quarter for the two since 2006.
During the quarter, total consumption across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN on ABC reached 175.7B minutes, representing a 7% increase year-over-year, according to Nielsen. The quarter marks ESPN\u2019s best first-quarter delivery since 2015.
ESPN2 delivered its best Q1 since 2019.<\/p>\n
2026 College Basketball Crown Scores Big on FOX and FS1<\/p>\n
CHAMPIONSHIP<\/p>\n
Peaked at 1.18 million viewers on FOXAveraged 950,000 viewers on FOXUp +16% YOY and +36% over the 2026 Men\u2019s NIT final average<\/p>\n
SEMIFINALS<\/p>\n
Averaged 810,000 viewers on FOXUp +15% YOY and +7% over the 2026 Men\u2019s NIT semifinals average<\/p>\n
OVERALL<\/p>\n
The 2026 College Basketball Crown tournament averaged 460k\u00a0viewers on FOX and FS1Up +77% YOY and +59% over the 2026 Men\u2019s NIT tournament average<\/p>\n
ESPN Delivers Stellar 2025-26 Women\u2019s College Basketball Campaign<\/p>\n
ESPN\u2019s expansive coverage of the 2025-26 women\u2019s college basketball season finished Sunday in Phoenix, Ariz., with the national title bout between No.1 South Carolina and No. 1 UCLA. The battle of the top seeds scored 9.9 million viewers, the third most-viewed women\u2019s college basketball championship game on ESPN networks and up 15% from last year\u2019s title matchup. The showdown peaked with 10.7 million viewers as UCLA took home its first NCAA trophy. The game ranks as ESPN\u2019s third most-watched all-time even with the third-largest margin of victory on record for the championship.<\/p>\n
The new alt-cast Courtside at the Women\u2019s Final Four Presented by AT&T recorded 771,000 viewers on ESPN\/ESPNU during the Championship Sunday window in its first season.<\/p>\n
Leading into the championship matchup, NCAA Women\u2019s Basketball Championship Presented by Capital One pregame show recorded 2.5 million viewers. ESPN\u2019s post-game studio programming, the NCAA Women\u2019s Basketball Post-Game Show Presented by Nissan, registered 759,000 viewers as the Bruins cut down the nets in Phoenix.<\/p>\n
The National Semifinals scored 5.2 million viewers to become the second most-watched since ESPN acquired the rights in 1996. South-Carolina\/UConn sits as the fourth-best Final Four game on ESPN networks, averaging 5.4 million viewers. The early game peaked with 7.7 million viewers as the Gamecocks advanced to the National Championship. The late semifinal featuring Texas and UCLA finished with 5 million viewers and peaked with 5.2 million, becoming the fifth most-watched NCAA semifinal on ESPN networks.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are thrilled with the continued momentum we have seen across women\u2019s basketball this season,\u201d said Dan Margulis, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions. \u201cWe delivered our strongest regular season performance in 17 years, the second-best NCAA Tournament overall and continued to grow excitement around the game. That success reflects the dedication of the student-athletes on the court, as well as the commitment of ESPN, the conferences and the NCAA to grow the game of women\u2019s basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s NCAA Women\u2019s March Madness (58 games) across ESPN networks averaged 1.3 million viewers, up +5% year-over-year. The 2026 Tournament featured 41 games across ABC and ESPN, tying last year\u2019s mark for the most across both networks.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s run marks ESPN networks\u2019 second most-watched women\u2019s NCAA Tournament, behind only the recording-breaking 2024 season. Prior to the last four Women\u2019s NCAA Tournaments, no game on ESPN networks topped the six million-viewer threshold \u2013nine games have now delivered above that mark, showcasing the continued growth of the sport.<\/p>\n
Additionally, this year\u2019s tournament had 21 games with over one million viewers, topping last year\u2019s total.<\/p>\n
Viewership Success by Round:<\/p>\n
Elite 8: 2.7 million viewersThird most-watched Elite 8 on recordNotre Dame\/UConn (3.1M \u2013 4th), Duke\/UCLA (2.8M \u2013 8th), TCU\/South Carolina (2.7M \u2013 9th) all rank within the Top 10 for the most-watched Elite 8 games on record
Sweet 16: 1.6 million viewersThird most-watched Sweet 16 on recordESPN averaged 1.4 million viewers across its six games, registering the network\u2019s second-best Sweet 16 ever, up 2% YoY.This year scored three of the top 10 Sweet 16 games of all-time: Kentucky\/Texas (2.2M \u2013 6th), Louisville\/Michigan (2.0M \u2013 8th), UNC\/UConn (2.0M \u2013 10th)UNC\/UConn was also the second most-watched weekday Sweet 16 game ever
Second Round: 1.0 million viewers, up 3% YoYSecond most-watched Second Round on record behind only 2024ESPN averaged its second-best viewership for this round with 1.1 million viewersUSC\/South Carolina (1.8M \u2013 4th), Syracuse\/UConn (1.5M \u2013 7th), Notre Dame\/Ohio State (1.5M \u2013 8th) and Virginia\/Iowa (1.4M \u2013 10th) all rank within the Top 10 for most-watched Second Round games on recordVirginia\/Iowa on ESPN peaked with 1.9 million viewers (on a Monday afternoon)
First Round: 401,000 viewers, up 9% YoYSecond most-consumed First Round on record with 1.3 billion minutes of live tournament games watchedSecond most-watched First Round since 2013 (fewer national linear windows)ESPN scored its second-best First Round since 2008 \u2013 averaging 515,000 viewers, up 10% YoYUTSA\/UConn (970,000) and Southern\/South Carolina (958,000) finished as the sixth and seventh most-watched First Round games on record, respectivelyTennessee\/NC State averaged 767,000 viewers, the most-watched weekday First Round game ever
First Four: 341,000 viewers, up 93% from 2024-25Most-watched First Four on record (since the round began in 2022)Richmond\/Nebraska registered 456,000 viewers, the most-watched First Four game on record
Stephen F. Austin\/Missouri State (354,000), Arizona State\/Virginia (314,000) and Samford\/Southern (237,000) now rank as the second, third and fourth most-watched First Fours, respectively
Champ Week: Conference Championship Sunday once again saw growth across ESPN, including record-best performances from the ACC and Big 12.SEC Championship (Texas\/South Carolina) scored 1.4 million viewersThe second-best SEC Champ game on record
ACC Championship (Louisville\/Duke) delivered 955,000 viewers, up 19% year-over-yearBest ACC Champ game on record
Big 12 Championship (West Virginia\/TCU) registered 853,000 viewers, up 12% year-over-yearBest Big 12 Champ game on recordWomen\u2019s College GameDay Covered by State Farm averaged 572,000 viewers from the SEC Championship, up 44% YoY.<\/p>\n
Regular Season: Women\u2019s college basketball delivered its most-watched regular season on ESPN networks since 2008-09. Viewership for the 2025-26 campaign finished 19% above the historic 2024-25 regular season. In all, the 89 women\u2019s games across ESPN networks averaged 330,000 viewers.<\/p>\n
It was also the most-consumed season on record for ESPN networks with more than 3.6 billion total minutes watched of live women\u2019s college basketball games. In addition, ESPN networks scored 20 games with more than 500,000 viewers during the regular season \u2013 the most on record in a single season, topping the \u201924-\u201925 campaign by five games.<\/p>\n
ESPN networks were home to six of the top 10 women\u2019s college basketball regular season games across all networks and 29 of the top 30 on cable.<\/p>\n
The Valentine\u2019s Day matchup between South Carolina and LSU finished as the top game across all networks this season with 1.7 million viewers. The game peaked with 2.2 million viewers, making it ESPN\u2019s second-most watched regular season game since 2010.<\/p>\n
ABC and ESPN had a combined 42 games on their networks this season, the most ever.<\/p>\n
Women\u2019s College GameDay: The four regular season Women\u2019s College GameDay Covered by State Farm shows were up 23% year-over-year and the show from Baton Rouge (Feb. 14) delivered 1.2 million viewers, the best regular season episode on record.<\/p>\n
The ESPN Women\u2019s Tournament Challenge set a new all-time record with more than 3.4 million completed brackets, up 5% over 2025.<\/p>\n
Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers Game and Real-Time Animated \u2018Inside Out Classic\u2019 Delivers Strong Viewership<\/p>\n
Inside Out Classic across Disney Channel and Disney XD is +76% vs. 2024 Big City GreensTraditional telecast of Washington-New York averaged 720K viewers, +77% vs. last season\u2019s NHL on ESPN averageNHL on ESPN networks +27% YoYSeason to date: Thru 44 games, NHL on ESPN and ABC is averaging 798K viewers<\/p>\n
CBS Sports and TNT Sports Posting Record Viewership Through Elite Eight<\/p>\n
Most-watched NCAA Tournament since 1993, averaging 10.3 million viewers through Elite Eight across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV, Up +9%UConn \u2013 Duke in Elite Eight peaked with 18.9 million viewers on CBS for thrilling conclusion. Game averaged 13.4 million viewers, up 15%Sweet 16 early primetime window on Friday (Duke \u2013 St. John\u2019s and Michigan \u2013 Alabama) averaged 14.2 million viewers, up +38% and the most-watched since 1992 for that windowEvery game window in the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight delivered year-over-year viewership increases<\/p>\n
YES\u2019 Early Season Yankees Viewership Numbers<\/p>\n
YES\u2019 Marlins-Yankees Home Opener on Friday, April 3, generated a Total Audience Delivery of 346,000 average viewers in the New York DMA per Nielsen. This afternoon telecast was the #1 pro sports telecast in Total Audience Delivery for that entire day in the New York DMA. Total Audience Delivery for that game peaked at 407,000 total viewers during the 4:15-4:30 pm ET quarter hour.<\/p>\n
YES viewers consumed more than 62.3 million minutes of the April 3 Yankees game, the highest number of minutes consumed for a YES weekday afternoon game in 2 years.<\/p>\n
The April 3 telecast was YES\u2019 second weekday afternoon game this season with an average Total Audience Delivery of more than 345,000 total viewers (348,000 for March 27 Opening Day). The March 27 telecast was YES\u2019 most-viewed weekday afternoon game in two years.<\/p>\n
NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series: Saturday\u2019s Event Earned a 0.65 Household Rating<\/p>\n
NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series: Saturday\u2019s event earned a 0.65 household rating with an average of 1.165 million viewers tuned in on The CW up +11% YOY where Rockingham also aired on Easter Weekend in 2025 (1.054 million)The race ranked as the #1 telecast of the week on The CW for the 8th time in 8 races of the 2026 NOAPS seasonAt peak, 1.5 million viewers were tuned in (5:00PM)NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series: Friday\u2019s race earned a 0.18 household rating with an average of 322,000 viewers tuned in on FS1 down -4% YOY (337,000)At peak, 413,000 viewers were tuned in (6:15PM-6:29PM)Weekend Motorsports, ranked by audience size:NOAPS (Rockingham): 1.165 million viewers on The CWNCTS (Rockingham): 322,000 viewers on FS1<\/p>\n
NASCAR O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series North Carolina Education Lottery 250 Presented by Black\u2019s Tire \u2013 Aired Saturday, April 4th\u00a0on The CW<\/p>\n
U.S. Rating\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02026: 0.65Up +12% over 2025 Rockingham on The CW (0.58)Avg. Viewers (000) (all ages P2+)2026:\u00a01.165 millionUp +11% over 2025 Rockingham on The CW (1.054)<\/p>\n
NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series Black\u2019s Tire 200 \u2013 Aired Friday, April 3rd\u00a0on FS1<\/p>\n
U.S. Rating\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02026:\u00a00.18Down -5% over 2025 Rockingham on FS1 (0.19)Avg. Viewers (000) (all ages P2+)2026: 322,000Down -4% over 2025 Rockingham on FS1 (337,000)<\/p>\n
ESPN Scores Second Most-Watched NCAA Women\u2019s Final Four on Record<\/p>\n
2026 NCAA Division I Women\u2019s Basketball Championship Game<\/p>\n
ESPN delivered the third largest audience since its exclusive rights agreement began in 1996, behind only 2024\u2019s record-breaking game (South Carolina-Iowa) and 2023 (LSU-Iowa)
Averaged 9.9 million viewers and peaked at 10.7 million viewers
Audience was up 15% from last year\u2019s title game
Demos: Women (+25 YoY, 46% of audience), P18-49 (+18% YoY), P2-17 (+34% YoY)
The Courtside at the Women\u2019s Championship alternate telecast contributed 771K viewers (ESPN & ESPNU)<\/p>\n
2026 NCAA Women\u2019s Basketball Final Four<\/p>\n
Second most-watched National Semifinals since ESPN acquired the rights in 1996, averaging 5.2 million viewers
South Carolina\/UConn averaged 5.4 million viewers and peaked with 7.7 million viewers
Fourth-best Final Four game on ESPN networks
Up 47% YoY
Texas\/UCLA finished with 5 million viewers and peaked with 5.2 million viewers
Fifth-best Final Four game on ESPN networks
Up 19% YoY<\/p>\n
Nielsen Releases Average Viewership\u00a0(Regular Season\u00a0and\u00a0NCAA Tournament)\u00a0For the Men\u2019s and Women\u2019s Final Four Teams<\/p>\n
Men\u2019s Final Four average viewing per game:<\/p>\n
UConn (1,686,000) vs Illinois (1,741,000)Arizona (1,462,000) vs Michigan (2,221,000)<\/p>\n
Women\u2019s Final Four average viewing per game:<\/p>\n
South Carolina (752,000) vs UConn (631,000)Texas (704,000) vs UCLA (673,000)<\/p>\n
Netflix Steps Up to the Plate: MLB Opening Night on Netflix Scores 3 Million US Viewers<\/p>\n
The 2026 MLB season debuted on Netflix March 25, with an estimated average minute audience (AMA) of 3M US viewers (Live+SD) tuning into the game, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel.\u00a0Some other US highlights:Highest primetime Opening Day viewership among P18\u201349 (1.38M) since 2017.Highest primetime Opening Day among P18\u201334 (636K)* since 2017.The game represents the youngest MLB Opening Day audience in a decade.The campaign has generated 200M owned global social impressions and 6M engagements to date.\u00a0MLB Opening Night presented by Adobe saw the New York Yankees secure a 7-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants.\u00a0The game served as the opening act for Netflix\u2019s three-event MLB slate. The action continues later this year with the T-Mobile Home Run Derby on July 13 and MLB at Field of Dreams on August 13, both streaming live only on Netflix.<\/p>\n
ESPN\u2019s UFL Opening Weekend Hits Over 700,000 Viewers<\/p>\n