Selection Sunday has frequently been placed on the sports calendar as a banner day, and the recent television ratings of the NCAA Selection Shows reveal gains for both the men’s and women’s broadcasts.
5.1 million viewers tuned into CBS for the Men’s Selection Show. That number represents a 3% increase from the 2022 show, and was the most-watched television program on any network.
ESPN also so an increase in the Women’s Selection Show, with an audience of 1.27 million. That figure is up 18% from 2022 and makes it the the most-watched women’s selection show since 2005.
It was the second consecutive year ESPN showcased the selection show on Sunday evening, after previously hosting the event on Monday nights.
The ratings uptick for ESPN continues a women’s basketball ratings surge, as the network claims it’s viewership from the 2022 NCAA Women’s Tournament rose 76%. The company also shared its regular season ratings for women’s basketball grew during the 2022-2023 season.
The news of an increased television audience for the selection shows comes on the heels of a report that both ESPN and CBS Sports/Warner Bros. Discovery sports have completely sold out television advertising inventory for the events.
