NCAA title game earns best TV rating since 2005

The NCAA men's championship basketball game earned its highest television rating since 2005.

Duke University's 61-59 win over Butler University on Monday night on CBS-TV earned a 14.2 fast national rating and 23
share. That's up 31 percent from the 10.8 rating and 18 share for North Carolina's blowout against Michigan State
last year.

It's the best rating since a 15.0 rating and 23 share for North Carolina's victory over Illinois in 2005.

More than 48 million viewers watched at least some of Monday night's game, the most since 50 million tuned in for Arizona-Kentucky
in 1997.

The entire tournament averaged a 6.0 rating, up 5 percent from last season.

Ratings represent the percentage of all households with televisions. Shares represent the percentage of all homes with TVs
in use at the time.