TV Ratings: NCAA overrun leads CBS Sunday, ‘Last Man on Earth’ rises

Fast National ratings for Sunday, March 22, 2015.

Boosted by a half-hour of NCAA Tournament overrun, CBS dominated Sunday overall and won a slim victory among young viewers as well.

Due to the live nature of the basketball coverage, Sunday numbers are preliminary, but at least in Fast Nationals, all three of CBS' Sunday dramas slipped overall, though “Madam Secretary” was up in the key demo and the other two were flat.

There was more positive news for FOX's “Last Man on Earth” and ABC's “Secrets & Lies,” which both rose a little on Sunday.

FOX also, it should be noted, had sports inflation on Sunday thanks to 30-ish minutes of NASCAR overrun.

On to the numbers…

Among adults 18-49, CBS averaged a 1.5 rating for Sunday night, edging out ABC's 1.4 rating and FOX's 1.3 rating in the key demographic. NBC was fourth for the night with a 1.0 key demo rating.

Overall, CBS had a lot more wiggle room, averaging an estimated 9.99 million viewers and a 6.4 rating/11 share for Sunday night, far ahead of the 5.51 million viewers and 3.3/6 for ABC. NBC was third with 4.41 million viewers and a 2.8/5, topping FOX's 3.35 million viewers and 2.0/3 for the night.

7 p.m. – CBS started primetime in first with roughly 35 minutes of NCAA overrun and 25 minutes of “60 Minutes” averaging 12.16 million viewers and a 2.7 rating among adults 18-49. ABC's “America's Funniest Home Videos” was second with 6.44 million viewers and a 1.4 key demo rating. A encore of “The Voice” was third with 2.94 million viewers and fourth with a 0.6 key demo rating for NBC. FOX was fourth overall and third in the key demo with a repeat of “The Simpsons” (3.07 million and a 0.9 key demo) and a new “Bob's Burgers” (2.17 million and a 1.0 key demo). 

8 p.m. – CBS stayed in first overall with 11.58 million viewers for 35 minutes of “60 Minutes” and 25 minutes of “Madam Secretary,” slipping to second with a 1.5 rating among adults 18-49. ABC's “Once Upon a Time” won the hour with a 1.8 key demo rating and finished second with 5.69 million viewers. NBC's “The Voice” encore was third with 4.07 million viewers and fourth with a 0.9 key demo rating, compared to the 3.09 million viewers and 1.3 key demo rating for a “Family Guy” repeat on FOX.

9 p.m. – “Madam Secretary” and “The Good Wife” averaged 9.18 million viewers to win the 9 p.m. hour and tied for third with a 1.1 rating among adults 18-49. ABC's “Secrets & Lies” was second with 5.485 million viewers and a 1.5 key demo rating. NBC's “Dateline” was third with 4.65 million viewers and tied for third with a 1.1 key demo rating. FOX's hour of “Last Man on Earth” averaged 4.33 million viewers and won the hour with a 1.7 key demo rating.

10 p.m. – CBS closed primetime in first overall with 7.04 million viewers for “The Good Wife” and “Battle Creek,” which finished third with a 0.9 rating among adults 18-49. NBC's “Dateline” was second with 5.99 million viewers and won the hour with a 1.3 key demo rating, topping the 4.44 million viewers and 1.1 key demo rating for ABC's “Revenge.”

All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change, particularly in the case of live events.

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