NCAA championship’s TV viewership down big from last year

Villanova fans Garrett Losty and his brother Bryce Losty dance around on the chair as they celebrate after the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against North Carolina, Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. Villanova won 77-74. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) Villanova fans Garrett Losty and his brother Bryce Losty dance around on the chair as they celebrate after the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against North Carolina, Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. Villanova won 77-74. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

By Associated Press April 5, 2016 2 min read

HOUSTON (AP) – The NCAA championship posted a record-low TV rating.

Villanova’s last-second win over North Carolina on Monday night averaged a 10.6 rating across TBS, TNT and truTV in the first title game to air on cable. The 17.8 million viewers were down 37 percent from the 28.3 million for last season’s Duke-Wisconsin matchup on CBS, which drew the largest audience in 18 years. Viewership was down 16 percent from the 21.3 million for UConn-Kentucky in 2014.

The previous low was a 10.8 rating for North Carolina-Michigan State in 2009.

Viewership was down throughout the tournament, which was lacking the star power of the 2015 edition, not to mention the allure of Kentucky’s pursuit of an undefeated season. The two routs in Saturday’s semifinals also didn’t help.

The audience Monday grew 51 percent from start to finish, peaking at 22.3 million for the thrilling ending, Turner Sports said Tuesday.