The NCAA March Madness tournament sees a significant increase in viewership, with dramatic spikes for specific games and a backdrop of political controversy involving Louisiana’s Governor and the LSU women’s basketball team.
The NCAA March Madness tournament has experienced a surge in viewership, with the Elite Eight Sunday becoming the most-watched in five years. The game between NC State and Duke stood out, drawing 15.1 million viewers on CBS, making it the most-watched Easter Sunday broadcast on any network for over a decade. The tournament overall saw an average of 9.4 million viewers across CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV, marking a 4% increase from the previous year.
In another highlight, the Purdue vs. Tennessee game attracted 10.4 million viewers, becoming the most-watched early regional final in the past five years. The Elite Eight doubleheader on Sunday had an average viewership of 12.8 million, showing a 30% increase compared to the previous year.
Amidst this sports fervor, a controversy emerged involving Louisiana’s Republican Governor, Jeff Landry, and the LSU women’s basketball team. The issue arose after the team and their coach, Kim Mulkey, were absent during the national anthem before their NCAA tournament game against Iowa. Governor Landry threatened to revoke scholarships of college athletes who do not stand for the anthem, sparking a debate that reflects wider social and political tensions. Coach Mulkey clarified that their absence was due to their pre-game routine rather than an intentional act of protest. The LSU Tigers, who are the defending national champions, lost to the Hawkeyes in a closely watched match that intensified the spotlight on the anthem controversy.
