2015 NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Championship
The 2015 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship delivered record-setting numbers across multimedia platforms. Saturday's NCAA Tournament National Semifinal between Kentucky and Wisconsin - airing across TBS, TNT and truTV - averaged 22.6 million total viewers to deliver the most-watched Final Four game in 19 years and the largest audience for a college basketball game in cable television history. Additionally, the average viewership for the Kentucky/Wisconsin game airing across the three networks (TBS, TNT and truTV) is the largest audience for a single program in the history of Turner Broadcasting (surpassing CNN's coverage of the NAFTA debate on Larry King Live on November 9, 1993, with an average of 16.8 million total viewers). The Kentucky/Wisconsin telecast peaked with an average of 28.2 million total viewers from 11-11:15 p.m. ET.
The National Semifinal doubleheader - also featuring Duke vs. Michigan State - reached 41.7 million total viewers, based on cumulative ratings information via Nielsen Fast Nationals. The doubleheader averaged 18.9 million total viewers for an increase of 35% over last year's comparable game telecasts.
Overall, the NCAA Tournament averaged 11.3 million total viewers across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV to deliver the most-viewed tournament coverage in 22 years and an 8% increase over last year. This year's tournament delivered three of the top five most-viewed college basketball games in the history of cable television - all airing on Turner networks - with the Kentucky/Wisconsin (22.6 million total viewers) and Duke/Michigan State (15.3 million total viewers) Final Four games surpassing last week's Kentucky/Notre Dame (14.7 million total viewers) Elite Eight telecast.
NCAA March Madness Live, managed by Turner Sports, generated several all-time records including 80.7 million live video streams and 17.8 million hours of live video consumption during this year's tournament. This year's live video streams are up 17% over last year, with hours of live video consumption up 19% this year. NCAA March Madness Live delivered all-time records for this weekend's National Semifinals - with six million live video streams and 1.5 million live hours of video consumption - as well as Monday's National Championship - 3.4 million live video streams and one million hours of live video consumption.
Additionally, the tournament grossed a record 350 million total social impressions across Facebook and Twitter for a 45% increase over 2014.
TNT
In the two-hour season finale on March 17, Rizzoli & Isles' episode and same-night encore drew a combined audience of 7.4 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery (+3% vs prior week), with 2.4 million adults 25-54 (+1%) and with 2.0 million adults 18-49 (+6%). With all replays and multiplatform viewing included, Rizzoli & Isles is reaching an average of 10 million viewers per episode. The back-to-back episodes also closed out the season ranked among basic cable's Top 4 scripted programs for the week.
TNT's NBA telecast featuring the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, March 31, delivered a 1.2 U.S. HH rating and an average of 1,620,000 total viewers, up 50% and 38%, respectively, over the comparable game last year (Portland Trail Blazers against the Los Angeles Lakers). Overall, TNT's doubleheader - also featuring the San Antonio Spurs against the Miami Heat - averaged 1,490,000 total viewers and a 1.0 U.S. HH rating, up 30% and 25%, respectively, over the comparable telecast last year.
Adult Swim
Adult Swim ranked as basic cable's #1 network for the week in Total Day delivery among adults and men 18-24, 18-34, & 18-49.
On Friday, The Jack & Triumph Show (11:30p) was basic cable's #1 telecast among adults 18-24 and 18-34, with delivery growing over the previous week by double-digits among Adults and Men 25-34 . The season six premiere of Childrens Hospital (12a) was basic cable's #1 telecast among adults 18-24.
TBS
American Dad's telecast on March 16 earned 1.4 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery. In key demos, the show delivered 1.0 million adults 18-49 (+8% vs prior week) and 631,000 adults 18-34 (+7% vs prior week). Across all of TBS's television, digital, and mobile platforms, the premiere so far has reached 3.8 million viewers.
Cougar Town on March 17 garnered a combined audience of 2.6 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery for its premiere telecast and 2 same week encores. In key demos, the show drew 1.6 million adults 18-49 and 591,000 adults 18-34. Across TBS's multiple platforms, Cougar Town is reaching an average of 3.2 million viewers per episode in its sixth and final season.
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network ranked as television's #1 network in total day (6a-8p) delivery among Kids 6-11, growing delivery for that demo by 21% over the same time period last year. Additionally, delivery among Kids 2-11 increased by 13% and Kids 9-14 grew by 19%.
Teen Titans Go! (Thursday, 6p) ranked as television's #1 telecast of the week among kids & boys 6-11.
Cartoon Network also ranked as television's #1 network for Boys 6-11 and 9-14.
All Thursday night premieres - Steven Universe (5p), Uncle Grandpa (5:30p), Teen Titans Go! (6p), and Regular Show(7:30p) - ranked #1 in their respective time periods among all targeted kids and boys, and grew by mostly double and triple digits across these same demos.
truTV
Based on Live+7 data for the week of March 16th, truTV primetime displayed strong growth over the prior week with its coverage of the NCAA 2015 Division 1 Men's Basketball Championship and the network yielded solid rankings among ad-supported cable networks.
The networks coverage of the NCAA games helped truTV earn Top Ten rankings among ad-supported cable networks for Adults and Men 18-49, as well as Adults 18-34.
NBA TV
This past week, NBA TV - featuring six live game telecasts - delivered a 14% increase in primetime viewership and a 13% improvement in total day viewership over the comparable week last year.
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