National Championship Game Rating Ties as Best in 11 Years

Duke-Butler Thriller Up 34% From Last Year's Championship

            CBS Sports' exclusive coverage of the 2010 NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship Game on Monday, April 5 (9:15-11:45 PM, ET) earned an average overnight household rating/share of 16.0/25, up 34% compared to last year's 11.9/19 (North Carolina-Michigan State) in the metered markets.

            The 16.0/25 rating/share tied with a 16.0/23 in 2005 (North Carolina-Illinois) as the highest rating in the metered markets for the NCAA National Championship game since a 16.9/25 in 1999 (Connecticut-Duke).

           The game rating peaked at a 20.3/35 from 11:30-11:45 PM, ET.

              CBS Sports' average overnight household rating/share for the overall Tournament was a 6.6/14, up 5% compared to last year's 6.3/13 in the metered markets. 

            The 6.6/14 overall average rating tied with 2007 as the highest overall average rating for the NCAA Tournament since a 7.3/14 in 2005.

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CBS Sports Contacts: 

LeslieAnne Wade   lwade@cbs.com                

Jen Sabatelle           mailto:klmateo@cbs.com