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6d ago

First Four Sets Viewership Record With 7.5 Million as Miami (OH)–SMU Tops

The shift to Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel measurement helps explain higher counts during a season of rising college hoops viewership.

Mar 18, 2026; Dayton, OH, USA; Miami (OH) RedHawks wing Eian Elmer (0) is interviewed after the game against the SMU Mustangs during a first four game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at University of Dayton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Overview

  • CBS Sports and TNT Sports reported a combined 7.5 million viewers on truTV across Tuesday and Wednesday, edging the 2025 total of 7.4 million.
  • Miami (Ohio) vs. SMU ranked as the most-watched First Four game at about 2.8 million viewers, up roughly 17% from last year’s top matchup.
  • Per-game figures reported by Manny Soloway show Texas–NC State at 1.8 million, Prairie View A&M–Lehigh at 1.514 million, and UMBC–Howard at 1.352 million.
  • This is the first NCAA Tournament measured under Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel currency with expanded out-of-home viewing, a change that lifts reported totals and complicates direct comparisons.
  • Sports Media Watch notes Tuesday’s games trailed last year in part due to competition from a record-setting World Baseball Classic final, even as the overall two-day tally set a new high.