ABC secures third most-watched NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship game ever
The UConn Huskies' convincing win averaged 8.5 million viewers across ABC and ESPN.
The UConn Huskies' convincing win averaged 8.5 million viewers across ABC and ESPN.
While down from last year, this year's Sweet 16 was up 39% versus 2023.
The first round was down 22% versus last season, but up 43% versus 2023.
Only three of ESPN's first and second round teams remain the same as last year.
We find out the Fields of 68 in the Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament on CBS at 6 p.m. ET and the Women's NCAA Tournament on ESPN at 8 p.m.
However, the women's payouts will be substantially less, commensurate with the media rights value attributed to the tournament.
"I don't even know if I can say this on TV."
"I guess we just gotta get better at not setting illegal screens."
"She does rap, her new single is 'It Ain't My Fault,' but today, this win was your fault." "It is our fault!"
The game delivered the third-biggest audience for any women's tournament game in 20 years.
The NCAA inked a new deal with ESPN for the rights to many of its championships, including the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.
"Who’s going to do for those championships what ESPN has done, not just in the championships, but in the regular season as well? Do not undervalue the thousands of hours produced on ABC/ESPN networks."
It appears the NCAA women's basketball tournament will be sold on its own going forward.