March 21, 2005

CBS SPORTS' 2005 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT-TO-DATE RATINGS SOAR

Four-Day Tournament Average Ties as Best in 12 Years

Metered Market Ratings for Sunday, March 20 Ties as Highest Since 1998

CBS Sports' four-day average overnight household rating/share for its live exclusive coverage of the 2005 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship is a 5.9/12, up +7% from a 5.5/12 last year. The 5.9/12 ties with a 5.9/14 in 1994 as the best initial four-day tournament average since a 6.2/14 in 1993 in the metered markets.

The Network's second-round coverage on Sunday, March 20 (12:00 Noon-7:30 PM, ET) earned an average rating/share of 7.1/15, in the metered markets, up +11% from a 6.4/14 in 2004. The 7.1/15 ties with a 7.1/15 in 2000 as the highest-rated second-round Sunday since a 7.3/17 in 1998.

CBS Sports' second and third broadcast windows of the day on Sunday earned the highest ratings in their respective windows since 2000. The second window (2:15-5:00 PM, ET), featuring Florida vs. Villanova and North Carolina vs. Iowa State earned an average overnight household rating/share of 7.4/16, up +16% from last year's 6.4/14. The 7.4/16 marks the highest rating in that window since a 7.6/17 in 2000. The third window (5:15-7:30 PM, ET) delivered an overnight rating/share of 8.6/16, in the metered markets, up +5% from 2004's 8.2/16. This is the highest rating in the game window since a 9.2/17 in 2000.

CBS Sports began the day on Sunday with national coverage of North Carolina State vs. Connecticut (12:00 NOON-2:15 PM, ET). The window earned an overnight household rating/share of 5.3/13, up +20% from a 4.4/11 last year (Mississippi State-Xavier).

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CBS Sports Contacts: Jen Sabatelle LeslieAnne Wade (212) 975-4120 (212) 975-5171
jsabatelle@cbs.com lwade@cbs.com