NEW YORK (AP) — College basketball fans found truTV on the first day of the new-look NCAA tournament.
The First Four matchup between No. 12 seeds Clemson and Alabama-Birmingham on Tuesday drew 1.35 million viewers on the cable network, which will broadcast tourney games along with CBS, TBS and TNT under the NCAA’s new television deal.
The earlier game between No. 16 seeds UNC-Asheville and Arkansas-Little Rock drew 1.2 million viewers.
Last year’s opening game between No. 16 seeds Winthrop and Arkansas-Pine Bluff drew 1.05 million viewers on ESPN. The tournament expanded to 68 teams this season, adding three additional games before the traditional Thursday start. Two of those matchups involve at-large squads.
Texas-San Antonio faces Alabama State and Southern Cal takes on Virginia Commonwealth on Wednesday.
