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ESPN’s extensive men’s college basketball coverage – featuring 131 regular-season games – was the network’s most-viewed season ever and highest rated since 2005-06. ESPN averaged 1,049,000 households, 1,359,000 viewers and a 1.1 rating for increases of 4 percent (vs. 1,005,000), 8 percent (vs. 1,258,000) and 10 percent (vs. 1.0), respectively, over last year’s 127 games. 

ESPN’s most-viewed and highest-rated game of the season was the Saturday, Dec. 19, matchup of then-No. 2 Texas and then-No. 10 North Carolina, with Texas winning 103-90. The telecast averaged 2,362,000 households and a 2.4 rating. It was also the network’s most-viewed men’s college basketball game in the fourth quarter (October to December) since Dec. 18, 2001. With 2,949,000 total viewers, the matchup was the most-viewed fourth quarter men’s college basketball telecast among total viewers (adults 2 and older) since Ohio State at North Carolina on Nov. 29, 2006 (3,024,000 viewers). 

ESPN2 — which televised a network record 173 games, 31 more than last year’s record highest – averaged a 0.4 rating, 372,000 households and 482,000 viewers, equal with last year. 

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