NCAA Tournament sets viewership record for first two rounds

March Madness delivered a ratings surge in its opening week, with the men's NCAA Tournament averaging 10.1 million viewers across CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV, marking the most-watched tournament ever through the first two rounds, according to Nielsen Big Data.

The first round set the pace, averaging an all-time best 9.5 million viewers, up 9% from last year. The round of 32 saw viewership climb further to an 11.0 million average, a 7% increase from 2025 and the most-watched second round since 1993.

The largest spike came on Sunday during the early prime-time window, with a combined audience of 19.7 million — the biggest single first-week window on record. Highlights included St. John's thrilling win over Kansas, Iowa’s upset of top-seeded Florida, and Tennessee’s victory over Virginia, all close finishes that kept viewers glued to their screens.

Broadcasters are optimistic that the audience surge will continue into the Sweet 16, set to begin Thursday. The weekend’s results also set the stage for a conference-heavy second week, with Big Ten teams making up six of the 16 remaining teams.

-Field Level Media/Reuters