TV Ratings

[hallcity]

From Sports Media Watch:

Duke-UNC ratings took a hit from the Winter Olympics.

Thursday’s Duke-North Carolina college basketball game scored a 1.5 rating and 2.4 million viewers on ESPN, down 17% in ratings and 24% in viewership from the rivals’ first meeting last season (1.8, 3.2M) and down 17% in both measures from 2016 (1.8, 2.9M). Figures include both TV and streaming viewership.

The Tar Heels’ win was the least-watched game between the rivals since 2014 (2.3M). That was also the last time the matchup aired opposite the Winter Olympics.

Despite the low, it was still the sixth-most watched college basketball game of the season. Duke has played in three of the top six, with their loss to Virginia last month ranking second (3.04M) and their Champions Classic win over Michigan State third (2.97M).

[Dr. Rosenrosen]

Loved or hated but never ignored.

[msdukie]

From Sports Media Watch:

Duke-UNC ratings took a hit from the Winter Olympics.

Thursday’s Duke-North Carolina college basketball game scored a 1.5 rating and 2.4 million viewers on ESPN, down 17% in ratings and 24% in viewership from the rivals’ first meeting last season (1.8, 3.2M) and down 17% in both measures from 2016 (1.8, 2.9M). Figures include both TV and streaming viewership.

The Tar Heels’ win was the least-watched game between the rivals since 2014 (2.3M). That was also the last time the matchup aired opposite the Winter Olympics.

Despite the low, it was still the sixth-most watched college basketball game of the season. Duke has played in three of the top six, with their loss to Virginia last month ranking second (3.04M) and their Champions Classic win over Michigan State third (2.97M).

This is the ESPN only rating. Does not include ACC Network [Raycom].

[BigWayne]

In 2014, the game was a direct conflict with the Olympics near the end of the second week of competition.
This year, it was in conflict with some broadcast of preliminary events the day before the opening ceremony when half the country doesn't even know the Olympics are started.

I didn't watch the game as it was against the cheaters.

Ratings are down because of cord cutting and also probably because a few people are tired of NCAA hypocrisy.