March Madness TV Ratings Set an Early-Round Record
The 2026 March Madness tournament has set record viewership numbers, with the first six days averaging 10.1 million viewers. This surpasses previous records, with the first and second rounds each setting new highs, and potentially positioning 2026 to be the most-watched Final Four of all time.
The 2026 March Madness tournament has broken viewership records. The first six days averaged 10.1 million viewers, the most of all-time. The first round drew 9.5 million views, a 9% increase from 2025. The second round had over 11 million viewers, the most since 1993. A Sunday primetime window on TNT and CBS Sports had 19.7 million views, the most-watched window in March Madness history. The tournament is available to stream on HBO Max, which may be contributing to the increased viewership.
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