Most-Watched Women’s Basketball Season Ever On The Big Ten Network

Most-Watched Women’s Basketball Season Ever On The Big Ten Network

’21-22 viewership tops previous record by +41%; 2022 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Presented by TIAA also sets record mark

 

CHICAGO, Ill. – The 2021-22 Big Ten women’s basketball season on the Big Ten Network was the most-watched ever, with +41% growth from the previous mark set in the 2019-20 season, four of the top five games in network history and the most watched Big Ten women’s basketball tournament in network history.

 

The 2022 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Presented by TIAA delivered BTN’s two highest-rated games ever, with Thursday’s quarterfinal between Michigan and Nebraska earning 238,000 viewers in a record-breaking performance, only to be surpassed the following night by Iowa and Nebraska’s semifinal game with 286,000 viewers. In total, the 2022 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Presented by TIAA averaged 120,000 viewers per game, an increase of +76% from the previous record set in 2017.

 

Throughout the entire season, Big Ten women’s basketball on the network averaged 70,000 viewers, up +41% from 2019-20.

 

In January, Iowa vs. Ohio State set a record as the most-watched regular season women’s basketball game in network history with 164,000 viewers. That was one of three regular season games this season to break into BTN’s top 5, along with Indiana vs. Iowa on Feb. 21 (138,000) and Iowa vs. Michigan on Feb. 6 (130,000).

 

Best Overall Women’s Basketball Games (includes postseason) On The Big Ten Network

 

Rank	Date	Game	Viewers
1	3/5/22	BTT SEMI: IOWA/NEBRASKA	286,000
2	3/4/22	BTT QUARTER: MICHIGAN/NEBRASKA	238,000
3	03/04/17	BTT SEMI: MARYLAND / MICHIGAN ST	199,000
4	3/5/22	BTT SEMI: OHIO STATE/INDIANA	188,000
5	01/31/22	OHIO STATE / IOWA	164,000

 

 

Best Regular Season Women’s Basketball Games On The Big Ten Network

 

Rank	Date	Game	Viewers
1	01/31/22	OHIO STATE / IOWA	164,000
2	12/21/16	UCONN / NEBRASKA	141,000
3	02/21/22	INDIANA / IOWA	138,000
4	02/06/22	IOWA / MICHIGAN	130,000
5	03/01/20	IOWA / RUTGERS	127,000

 

Big Ten basketball coverage continues this week, with the first 10 games of the 2022 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament presented by TIAA airing on the Big Ten Network and FOX Sports app.

 

*All audience data according to Nielsen Media Research

 

About Big Ten Network

A joint venture between the Big Ten Conference and Fox Networks, Big Ten Network is the first internationally distributed network dedicated to covering one of the premier collegiate conferences in the country. With more than 1,700 events across all platforms, the 24/7 network is the ultimate destination for Big Ten fans and alumni across the country, allowing them to see their favorite teams, regardless of where they live. The Fox Sports App is the digital extension of the Big Ten Network, delivering live games and on-demand programming to Big Ten Network customers via the web, smartphones, and tablets. Network events include football, men’s and women’s basketball games, dozens of Big Ten Olympic sports and championship events, studio shows and classic games. Original programming highlights activities and accomplishments of some of the nation’s finest universities, including the Emmy-nominated The Journey. The network is carried by all the major video distributors across the United State and Canada, such as DIRECTV, DISH, Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-Verse, Charter Spectrum, Xfinity, Altice USA, Cox Contour TV, Mediacom, RCN, WOW!, and approximately 300 additional video providers across North America. Big Ten Network is also available through the majority of streaming providers, including DIRECTV Stream, fuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, Vidgo and YouTube TV. For additional information, please visit www.btn.com.