The 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament has captivated audiences nationwide, drawing an impressive 9.4 million viewers per game through the Round of 32. This remarkable achievement marks the highest viewership since 1993, when college basketball was at its peak with iconic teams like North Carolina’s championship squad and Michigan’s legendary Fab Five.
In an era of fragmented media consumption, March Madness has bucked the trend of declining television audiences. The tournament’s multi-network coverage across CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, combined with streaming options via NCAA March Madness Live, has ensured unprecedented accessibility for basketball fans eager to witness the drama unfold on the hardwood.
Sunday Showdowns Drive Massive Audiences
Sunday’s second-round games on March 23 delivered exceptional numbers, averaging 10.1 million viewers, as powerhouse programs like Kentucky and Duke took center stage. These matchups featuring marquee teams from the SEC, Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12 demonstrated the tournament’s continued ability to draw casual and dedicated fans alike during the weekend’s prime viewing hours.
The NCAA Tournament is averaging 9.4 million viewers per game 🤯 (@Reuters)
This is the highest total through the Round of 32 since 1993 📈 pic.twitter.com/Bzz7IGmyDZ
— College Basketball Report (@CBKReport) March 26, 2025
Although Arkansas, a 10-seed, made a memorable run to the Sweet 16, the lack of a traditional Cinderella story from a lower seed hasn’t lost excitement with viewers attracted to quality contests between power conference schools.
This is in contrast to past tournaments where surprise upsets by lower seeds fueled casual interest but potentially resulted in less exciting later-round games.
First Round Shatters Previous Records
Thursday’s opening round set an all-time record, with 9.1 million viewers tuning in across all networks, a 6% increase from 2024’s opening day. The primetime coverage was particularly strong, averaging 12.2 million viewers and establishing a new first-round benchmark for the tournament.
The most-watched game featured Arkansas versus Kansas a clash between coaching titans John Calipari and Bill Self. Arkansas’ upset victory set up another compelling storyline for the second round, a matchup with Rick Pitino’s St. John’s squad, marking the fifth NCAA Tournament meeting between longtime rivals Calipari and Pitino.
The First Four games, which kicked off the tournament on March 19, also showed impressive growth, averaging 3.6 million viewers, a 21% increase from 2024. Xavier’s upset of Texas became the most-watched First Four game in history, setting the tone for the tournament’s record-breaking viewership.
With the Sweet 16 just around the corner, the tournament’s strong performance is a 3% year-over-year boost from last year’s 2024 record of around 9.12 million viewers at the same juncture. With such stalwart programs as Duke and Kentucky making it into the Sweet 16, as well as Arkansas’ shocking advancement as a 10-seed, viewership may increase even further in subsequent rounds.
The 2024 Elite Eight had an average audience of 11 million, a figure that, based on the early momentum, 2025 looks set to top.
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The viewership surge occurred during the NIL era, suggesting that despite concerns about the changing landscape of college athletics, fan interest remains stronger than ever. With the championship game scheduled for April 7 at 8:30 p.m. ET, the tournament is on track to potentially set even more records as it builds toward its conclusion.
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