Even With Caveats, Elite 8 Overnight Ratings Down Dramatically

Overnight rating for four Elite 8 games on CBS/TBS -25% from 2015, which had UK still undefeated, no Easter, Sunday games NOT in primetime
— Austin Karp (@AustinKarp) March 28, 2016

Ratings for this year’s NCAA Tournament Elite Eight were down sharply, as relayed up-top by Sports Business Journal assistant managing editor Austin Karp. Though there were some big traditional programs this year, including Syracuse and North Carolina, and a very likable senior in Buddy Hield, there was nothing matching the star power of then-undefeated Kentucky.

Even with the facts that Sunday was a holiday and that there was no supernova like Kentucky, these numbers are a concerning, drastic drop. It will be interesting to see the more specific breakdowns as they come out.