NCAA Tourney Overnights Down 15% From Record-Setting Thursday Openers Last Year

The first day of the '16 NCAA Tournament averaged a 5.6 overnight rating across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV, down 15% from a 6.6 overnight for last year's record-setting first Thursday. The 6.6 last year was the best for an opening Thursday in at least 24 years, highlighted by a single-day record of five games decided by one point. Also affecting Thursday's figure was having the openers fall on St. Patrick's Day, which likely led to higher levels of out-of-home primetime viewing. The 5.6 rating on Thursday also is down 7% from a 6.0 overnight in '14 and down 3% from a 5.8 overnight in '13 (Austin Karp, Assistant Managing Editor).

DAYTON ACCORDS: Michigan-Tulsa on Wednesday night drew 2.16 million viewers, marking the second most-viewed First Four game on record for truTV, behind only 2.23 million viewers for Tennessee-Iowa in ’14. The First Four overall averaged 1.31 million viewers, marking the second-best four-game average since the First Four began in ’11. Meanwhile, truTV on Tuesday debuted its #truTVisAThing campaign for the First Four, following on the heels of last year's #HaveUFoundtruTV social media effort. The campaign garnered over 235 million impressions in just two days, up 26% over last year (Karp).

FIRST FOUR VIEWERSHIP TREND YEAR 4-GAME AVG. (000) '16 1,311 '15 1,305 '14 1,493 '13 1,118 '12 984 '11 1,142

In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes there are "pertinent -- some critical -- issues that will be ignored and not discussed" during tournament coverage. Things fans likely will see or hear include a "discussion on gambling," while there will be "minimal -- if any -- references to academics." Also, do not expect to be reminded of why Louisville "is not in the tournament." Raissman: "Don't think any of the participating mouths will be touching this one. It would mean bringing up the seamy side of a program" ( N.Y. DAILY NEWS 3/18 ).

PREP MODE: In St. Louis, Dan Caesar notes Brewers TV play-by-play announcer Brian Anderson is calling "play-by-play of the four NCAA Tournament games Friday and two Sunday at Scottrade Center." Anderson said the opening round of the tournament is the "hardest thing I do all year in broadcasting and it's the most rewarding as well." Anderson: "It's the most fun day of my year. The actual game is OK. But Thursday -- the day before-- is the most challenging because you're still in prep mode, assembly mode." Caesar notes this is the fifth year Anderson is "going through the rigorous task." However, it "actually is a reduction" from the last couple years, when he "also called two 'play-in-games' before the main bracket began" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 3/18).

