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NCAA Final Four Set Following Mixed Viewership Trends in Elite Eight

Men's tournament faces declines from Easter-boosted 2024, while women's games show growth over historical averages despite sharp drops from last year's records.

Mar 31, 2025; Spokane, WA, USA; UConn Huskies guard Paige Bueckers (5) is fouled by USC Trojans guard Malia Samuels (10) during the second half of an Elite 8 NCAA Tournament basketball game at Spokane Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images
Mar 27, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; The March Madness logo is seen on a basketball during the NCAA tournament midwest regional practice day at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images/File Photo
Mar 30, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Auburn Tigers forward Johni Broome (4) dribbles against Michigan State Spartans forward Jaxon Kohler (0) during the first half in the South Regional final of the 2025 NCAA tournament at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
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Overview

  • The NCAA men's basketball Elite Eight viewership fell 10% from last year, with Sunday games experiencing significant declines due to the absence of Easter Sunday out-of-home boosts.
  • Sunday's Houston-Tennessee game drew 7.1 million viewers, down 32%, while Auburn-Michigan State drew 11.7 million, down 23% compared to 2024's Easter-inflated numbers.
  • Saturday's Elite Eight games performed better, with Duke-Alabama up 26% and Florida-Texas Tech up 16% year-over-year, highlighting Duke's strong audience pull.
  • The women's tournament's regional finals averaged 2.9 million viewers, over 50% below 2024's record highs but still the second-highest on record and up 34% from two years ago.
  • UCLA-LSU drew 3.4 million viewers, marking the third-largest women's Elite Eight audience ever, with the women's tournament averaging 967,000 viewers per game, up 47% from 2023.