The day that has come to be known as Final Four Saturday was, as one would reasonably expect, dominated by the Men’s Final Four.
Saturday’s NCAA Men’s Final Four averaged a combined 6.0 rating and 12.84 million viewers across TBS, TNT and truTV, down 2% in ratings but up 4% in viewership from last year on CBS (6.2, 12.34M). UConn-Alabama led the way with a 6.7 and 14.18 million and Purdue-NC State led in with a 5.3 and 11.45 million.
While the Men’s Final Four outdrew the Women’s Final Four the prior night (5.5, 11.0M), neither game was as big a draw as the Iowa-UConn women’s semifinal on ESPN and ESPN2 (7.1, 14.43M). For more details on the Men’s Final Four ratings, see the preceding link.
Beyond the hardwood, third round coverage of the PGA Tour Texas Open averaged a 1.0 and 1.59 million on NBC, up 16% in ratings and 20% in viewership from last year (0.9, 1.32M). The final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur led in with a 0.54 (+10%) and 854,000 (+13%) and the competing LIV Golf event from Miami had a 0.12 and 204,000 on CW.
ABC drew a 0.6 and 1.22 million for a Panthers-Bruins NHL regular season game, up from Bruins-Penguins on Final Four Saturday last year (0.6, 1.14M) and the largest audience for an indoor NHL game since Opening Night (not counting the All-Star Game). It was preceded by Lightning-Penguins at a 0.49 and 883,000.
The same network drew a 0.52 and 908,000 for a primetime Arlington-St. Louis UFL game, while cable sibling ESPN scored a 0.42 and 718,000 for San Antonio-Memphis earlier in the day.
Further down the dial, FS1 averaged a 0.36 and 642,000 for a Dodgers-Cubs Major League Baseball game, up from Rangers-Cubs last year (0.29, 493K). That led into the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Martinsville at a 0.49 (-6%) and 852,000 (+5%), which itself led into tape-delayed NHRA at a 0.21 and 329,000.
In other racing action, the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix drew a 0.26 and 484,000 on ESPN in the overnight hours — up from last year’s 0.23 and 479,000 on ESPN2. (An earlier version of this post mistakenly compared the Japanese GP viewership to the 2022 figures of 0.28 and 549,000.)
The SheBelieves Cup topped the day’s soccer slate as United States-Japan drew a combined 0.37 and 682,000 across TNT (0.21, 393K) and Telemundo (0.16, 289K). Liga MX topped out at a 0.26 and 478,000 for a Cruz Azul-Monterrey on Univision and the Premier League at a 0.25 and 464,000 for Arsenal-Brighton on USA Network. In a rare United Soccer League match on broadcast television, CBS drew a 0.23 and 362,000 for Louisville-Indy — topping primetime MLS on FOX (opposite the Final Four) at a 0.13 and 211,000.
A primetime Oklahoma-Texas college softball game drew a 0.24 and 437,000 on ESPN, preceded by LSU-Florida at a 0.19 and 338,000. A competing Clemson-Notre Dame college baseball game on ESPN2 had a 0.05 and 101,000.
Hi Jon. Any ratings for the MLS game between LAFC and LA Galaxy on Fox Deportes on Saturday night?
35K
A couple of thoughts.
Final Four numbers are ok. 2 things have hurt. The men’s tournament this year has been very underwhelming. Lots of one-sided games. Not many memorable moments (I can only think of Oakland’s upset of Kentucky as a memorable game). Also, having these games on Turner definitely keep the numbers down. Should be close to a record low for last night’s blowout as well.
Great numbers for the NHL. Bruins always draw well. Would not be surprised if this Saturday’s game between the Bruins-Penguins in primetime on ABC gives them the highest indoor viewership. ESPN/ABC/Turner definitely are rooting for the Bruins to make a long run in the playoffs.
The soccer numbers threw me for a loop. I had to do a double take when I saw the USL beat the MLS. I know the MLS was up against the final 4. But wow. That is bad. USL is a low level league. I think MLS on Apple has really turned off fans. And there is no linear presence at all. Yes, Fox televises the games. But, it’s all Apple produced and Fox does no promotion for the games. I dont blame them either. It is not their entity. It is just a bad look for MLS in my opinion. And you have to wonder if the Apple deal was worth it for them.
MLS on Fox tv numbers can’t be taken at face value since 1/3 to 2/3 of the total audience is likely watching it on MLS Season Pass on Apple. But given many people don’t take this into account, the lower numbers are a bad look for MLS.
USL is a D2 league, just below the MLS D1 sanctioning. So, in US Open Cup, USL teams have defeated MLS teams over the years including one USL team making the final a couple of years ago. Given soccer fans are used to watching a variety of leagues, they are less hung up low level vs high level league differences than the typical American sports fan.
Do you have the AEW ratings that aired after the college game on tnt?