Duke’s March Madness defeat hoops ratings for CBS
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Michelle Clancy
| 02 April 2019

In the NCAA Tournament ‘Elite Eight’ round, Michigan State edged the Duke Blue Devils on Sunday – busting March Madness brackets across the US, but handing CBS a ratings victory.

March Madness continues to be a ratings superstar for CBS and other networks that carry it. CBS was first in ratings on Sunday, with a 1.5 rating/6 share in the 18-49 demographic and in total viewers with an average of 9.4 million, according to Nielsen .

The 16-minute NCAA overrun into primetime, combined with 60 Minutes, scored 15 million viewers for the first hour of primetime. The rest of 60 Minutes and the beginning of “God Friended Me meanwhile drew 9 million viewers at 8 p.m.; and at 9 p.m., the end of God Friended Me and the first half of NCIS: Los Angeles drew 7.6 million viewers. At 10 p.m., the rest of NCIS: Los Angeles and first part of Madam Secretary drew 5.6 million viewers.

ABC was second in ratings, led by American Idol with 7.2 million viewers. FOX was third in ratings, despite showing reruns of the Simpsons and Family Guy. NBC, Univision, Telemundo and the CW rounded out the broadcast rankings.