Overview
- The Michigan–UConn championship, which aired Monday night, averaged about 18.3 million viewers across TNT, TBS, truTV and HBO Max.
- Viewership peaked at 20.4 million between 11:00 and 11:15 p.m. ET, making it the most-watched men’s final by average since 2019.
- The audience rose 23% versus Warner Bros. Discovery’s 2024 title telecast and set a cable high for a men’s championship.
- The full tournament averaged 10.9 million viewers, up 7% year over year, while the Final Four averaged 14.2 million, up 11%.
- Nielsen’s new Big Data + Panel ratings method and broader out-of-home counts lifted totals, yet media buyers say ad sales likely top $1 billion and cover the $1.02 billion rights fee.