Most viewed tournament in 19 years; Will Turner, Marv Albert, do Final Four next year?

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Well, did that game work for you? Looks like it did.

The ratings were impressive. From CBS:

The 2013 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV is the most-watched NCAA Tournament in 19 years, according to Nielsen.  The 2013 NCAA Tournament averaged 10.7 million total viewers, up 11% from last year’s 9.6 million viewers, and is the highest average for the NCAA Tournament in 19 years (11.2 million; 1994). 

The National Championship game, which saw Louisville defeat Michigan on CBS on Monday, April 8, earned an average fast national household rating/share of 14.0/22, up 14% from last year’s 12.3/19 (Kentucky-Kansas).  The National Championship game averaged 23.4 million viewers, up 12% from last year’s 20.9 million. 

 The Championship game coverage peaked in HH rating/share with a 16.1/27 and average viewers with 27.1 million, from 11:00-11:30 PM, ET.

 Coverage for the entire 2013 NCAA Tournament across Turner Sports and CBS Sports averaged a HH rating/share of 6.7/14, up 10% from last year’s 6.1/13, and is the highest average NCAA Tournament rating in eight years (6.9/15; 2005). 

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As I wrote previously, the tournament was a huge success thanks in part to the CBS-Turner partnership. Making all the games available really pulled viewers in for the long haul.

Now the big question: Which network will do the Final Four next year?

CBS and Turner were supposed to begin alternating the Final Four in 2016. However, apparently there is a provision in the contract that allows Turner to telecast next year’s Big Dance in Dallas.

Both networks said in joint statement, “There is no timetable for a decision.”

However, without knowing the monetary aspect, it would seem to be a no-brainer for Turner to grab next year’s Final Four. Why wait two years when the tournament is surging?

If Turner does get the Final Four, would it bump Jim Nantz and use its signature voice, Marv Albert, for the play-by-play? You would assume that would be the case.

Ernie Johnson definitely would be the main studio host, reuniting with Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley. And does that send Doug Gottlieb to the sidelines?

All questions that will be answered soon.