NCAA Finals Ratings Jump Across Networks in 2026
The 2026 NCAA basketball finals drew strong audiences: the men’s championship on TNT Sports averaged 18.3 million viewers across TBS/TNT/TruTV, up from 18.1 million in 2025 on CBS and about 23% higher than 2024, making it the most-watched men’s title since 2019. The women’s final on ABC/ESPN drew 9.88 million, up about 16% from 2025 and ranking as the third-most-watched women’s final on record. The men’s Final Four averaged 14.2 million, down ~8% from 2025, while the tournament-wide average reached 10.9 million, up 7% and the second-highest since 1994.