ESPN’s Coverage of NIT Sees Growth Across All Networks
ESPN’s coverage of the NIT through the quarterfinals (Tuesday, March 12 – Wednesday, March 21) averaged 404,000 viewers, up 10 percent year over year across all networks. Individually, ESPN and ESPNU both saw increases, up 8 percent and 88 percent, respectively.
The most-watched matchup of this year’s tournament to date was the quarterfinal between Louisville and Mississippi State (Tuesday, March 20), with 933,000 viewers.
Top Markets
Louisville topped the charts with a 3.5 local market rating, followed by Tulsa (0.9), and Oklahoma City, Birmingham and Kansas City all averaging a 0.8 rating. The top 11 markets include:
| Rank | Market | Rating |
| 1 | Louisville | 3.5 |
| 2 | Tulsa | 0.9 |
| 3 | Oklahoma City | 0.8 |
| Birmingham | 0.8 | |
| Kansas City | 0.8 | |
| 6 | Knoxville | 0.7 |
| Norfolk-Portsmth-N. Nws | 0.6 | |
| Nashville | 0.6 | |
| Indianapolis | 0.6 | |
| Raleigh-Durham | 0.6 | |
| 11 | Memphis | 0.5 |
Coverage of the NIT on ESPN continues with the semifinals today, March 27, as Western Kentucky faces Utah (7 p.m. ET), followed by Mississippi State playing Penn State (9 p.m.). The winners will advance to play in the NIT championship game on Thursday, March 29 (7 p.m., ESPN2), at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
-30-
