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Michigan’s Dominance Poses Threat to NCAA Title Game Ratings

Published

2 days ago

April 6, 2026

Michigan’s Dominance Poses Threat to NCAA Title Game Ratings

As much as cable’s dwindling reach presents an obvious challenge to pay-TV advertisers, Michigan’s tendency to blow out its opponents may prove to be the biggest drain on the audience deliveries for Monday night’s national championship game.

The Wolverines have buzzsawed through the 2025-26 hoops campaign on rampage mode, racking up the fourth-biggest scoring average for a Power Four team (87.8 points per game), or nearly 11 points higher than UConn’s output (76.9). And if Michigan seemed averse to taking its foot off the gas during the regular season, Dusty May’s squad has all but tear-assed its way through March Madness, becoming the first-ever team to score 90 points or better in each of its five tournament games.

Michigan’s offense has been particularly relentless down the stretch—so much so that its last two games were effectively decided before the half. The Wolverines were up 48-26 against Tennessee after the first 20-minute stretch of their Elite Eight matchup, which did CBS no favors. Per Nielsen, the Sunday afternoon broadcast averaged 7.49 million viewers, a far cry from the 13.4 million viewers who took in UConn-Duke in the lead-out window. (And let this be a lesson to fair-weather fans who bail at the midway mark: While the Huskies were down 44-29 at the half, they would go on to Laettner their way to a delirious 73-72 victory, courtesy of Braylon Mullins’ 35-foot buzzer beater.)

After Michigan dispatched the Vols by a 33-point margin, the Big Ten outfit did a similar number on fellow No. 1 seed Arizona in the Final Four. At the half, the Wolverines had established a 48-32 lead over the Wildcats, and, thanks in part to a 26-12 advantage in points off turnovers, Michigan would propel itself to the title game with a suspense-free 91-73 win.

All told, Michigan has posted a relentless 21.6-point average margin of victory in the tourney since it breezed past Howard 101-80 in the opening round. That game averaged 4.52 million viewers on CBS.

Through the Final Four, Michigan in this year’s tourney has averaged 94.4 points per game while allowing its opponents to put up 72.8. UConn’s offense hasn’t been nearly as prolific, averaging 73.2 points per game, although its D has been downright miserly. Over the last five games, the Huskies have ceded a stingy 65.0 points per outing. That said, Michigan is a 6.5-point favorite—which, as it just so happens, are the same odds UConn boasted ahead of the opening tip of the 2023 and 2024 championship games.

Speaking of which, those two games were the least-watched title tilts on record, as UConn’s 76-59 defeat of San Diego State in 2023 averaged 14.7 million viewers on CBS, while the following year’s 75-60 win over Purdue eked out 133,000 more impressions.

UConn has never been a huge TV draw, as its 2004 win over Georgia Tech averaged a relatively meager 17.1 million viewers, down from 18.6 million for the previous year’s Syracuse-Kansas game and off 28% compared to Maryland-Indiana in 2002 (23.7 million). That said, the Huskies’ first national title appearance averaged 26.3 million viewers in 1999, although its opponent—Mike Krzyzewski’s Duke Blue Devils—have long been the college game’s star attraction. Duke’s 1992 victory over Michigan averaged a staggering 34.3 million viewers, making it the second most-watched college basketball game in history. (Top honors go to the Bird vs. Magic/Indiana State-Michigan State slugfest in 1979, which averaged 35.1 million viewers on NBC.)

Of course, UConn has a whole lot of history on its side, having never lost a title in six trips. While the North Carolina Tar Heels have matched the Huskies in the W column, UNC has also lost a half-dozen championship bouts. Kentucky is 8-4, with its last victory coming against Kansas in 2012, while even mighty UCLA tasted defeat twice in the course of amassing a record 11 crowns. John Wooden’s program ran up a perfect 10-0 mark from 1964 to 1975.

If UConn manages to preserve its unblemished streak, TNT Sports may have a shot at coming within shooting distance of last year’s Florida-Houston turnout (18.1 million viewers). As much as cable’s reach puts TBS et al at something of a disadvantage, it’s worth noting that CBS has the dubious distinction of drawing the all-time low in 2023. Still, the gap separating the broadcast networks from their cable counterparts is not inconsiderable; including those fans who access their favorite cable channels via a virtual MVPD, the reach of the TNT Sports portfolio now lags the old school over-the-air nets by more than 20 million households.

Michigan appeared in three of the 10 most-watched games of the regular season, so a close contest could go a long way toward boosting Monday night’s TV numbers. And clearly there’s been interest throughout this year’s tourney, which through the Elite Eight is averaging a 33-year high of 10.3 million viewers per window. Deliveries are up 9% versus the year-ago stretch, and while Nielsen’s upgraded ratings methodology is responsible for some of those gains, the fact that CBS and the TNT sports nets have met their March Madness guarantees is the only thing that really matters to their advertisers.

In the absence of any significant makegoods, the media partners are on pace to split more than $1 billion in total advertising revenue. If UConn and Michigan can keep things close on Monday night, the broadcast network and its cable colleagues will have a real shot at making a profit, as the combined rights fee for this year’s tourney was $1.02 billion. A nailbiter will also go a long way toward justifying the inevitable hike in next year’s pricing, which will be necessitated by yet another bump in the NCAA payout.

In 2027, the fee will reach $1.05 billion. By the time the 2030 rolls around, escalators will push the buy-in to $1.17 billion—up 14.2% compared to this year’s rate.

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World

Brawl breaks out between Braves pitcher Reynaldo López and Angels slugger Jorge Soler

Published

2 hours ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

Brawl breaks out between Braves pitcher Reynaldo López and Angels slugger Jorge Soler

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo López and Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler were ejected after getting into a brawl Tuesday night.

Soler homered off López in the first inning, then was hit by a 96 mph fastball from the right-hander his next time up. In the fifth, Soler charged the mound after López threw a high-and-inside wild pitch that tipped off catcher Jonah Heim’s mitt.

At first, López held up his hands as the two glared at each other before both started throwing punches.

“I asked him if everything was OK and the answer he gave me, I didn’t like it,” Soler said through a translator, according to MLB.com. “That’s why I went out there.”

The benches and bullpens emptied as players from both teams tried to separate the two. Atlanta manager Walt Weiss was among those who tackled Soler, the 2021 World Series MVP with the Braves.

“I love Soler. We were teammates here,” Weiss said. “But that’s a big man, and so I just felt I’ve gotta get him off his feet because he’s gonna hurt somebody. And so that was my instinct, just to get in there and get Jorge off his feet, yeah, because he was on a warpath.”

López was still holding the baseball when he landed a punch on Soler’s batting helmet.

The two were teammates in Atlanta during the second half of the 2024 season.

“It’s just a shame, the situation and how things unfolded,” López said through a translator, according to MLB.com. “On my part, there was never any intent to hit him at any point. So, again, it’s just a shame.”

Atlanta led 4-2 when the fight occurred and went on to a 7-2 victory.

Soler’s two-run shot in the first made him 14 for 23 with five homers and three doubles against López.

“Obviously, I have good numbers against him,” Soler said. “After the home run and getting hit by a pitch after that, and then he missed way too high and close to my head. At this level, you can’t miss like that.”

Weiss understood why Soler was mad.

“I know it didn’t look good because of Soler’s numbers against Lópey, and he hit a homer, he hit him. It didn’t look good,” Weiss said. “Lópey’s not throwing at him. I don’t allow our pitchers to throw at people just because they can’t get ’em out. Our job is to get ’em out. But I understand why Soler got angry. And he’s a really mild-mannered guy. So, I think the switch flipped for him.

“There was no intent there. I just think that Lópey’s just overthrowing, because he’s had a hard time getting him out. But he’s certainly not trying to hit him,” Weiss added.

López pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing three hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.

“Obviously, guy’s got good numbers off López, and hits a homer his first at-bat. Gets drilled up high in the wrist his second at-bat and then third one takes a good swing and then throws the next one head-high. It wasn’t over his head but it was head-high coming in,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said.

“I don’t blame Jorge one bit. He went out there and words were exchanged and Jorge went out,” Suzuki added. “You get thrown at your head, you have a family, your career, you know, it’s dangerous. I know it’s part of the game. I know it happens.”

The Angels won 6-2 on Monday in the opener of the three-game series. Tuesday night’s game was more eventful, to say the least.

“It gets your juices flowing a little bit, on both teams I’m sure,” Weiss said. “So, as long as nobody gets hurt, it’s kind of a good time. But as long as nobody gets hurt. But yeah, I was proud of our guys the way we handled everything tonight.”

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

World

Iran’s UN ambassador takes swipe at Trump in final hours before Strait of Hormuz deadline

Published

3 hours ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

Iran’s UN ambassador takes swipe at Trump in final hours before Strait of Hormuz deadline

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Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations took a swipe at President Donald Trump on Tuesday hours before Trump’s deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, calling one of the president’s posts on Truth Social “deeply irresponsible” and “profoundly alarming.”

Trump has given the Iranian regime until 8 p.m. ET to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — a key waterway — or face strikes against its power plants and bridges.

In a post Tuesday morning, Trump said, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” and, “I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”

“Today the President of the United States again resorted to language that is not only deeply irresponsible but profoundly alarming, declaring that, quote, ‘the whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back,’ unquote,” Amir-Saeid Iravani said at U.N. headquarters in New York on Tuesday afternoon.

RUSSIA, CHINA VETO UN RESOLUTION AIMED AT REOPENING STRAIT OF HORMUZ, HOURS BEFORE TRUMP DEADLINE

Amir-Saeid Iravani, Iran’s U.N. ambassador, left, and President Donald Trump. (Timothy Clary/AFP via Getty Images; Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

“It is regrettable and alarming that while in full view of the international community, the President of the United States shamelessly and brazenly issues threats to destroy all civilian infrastructure in Iran, including bridges, power plants and energy facilities, by setting a deadline and openly reveals this intent to commit vile crimes and crimes against humanity,” Iravani added.

The White House, when asked by Fox News Digital for reaction, said, “The Iranian regime has committed egregious human rights abuses against its own citizens for 47 years, just murdered tens of thousands of protestors in January, and has indiscriminately targeted civilians across the region in order to cause as much death as possible throughout this conflict.”

CHINA AIDING IRAN MISSILE PROGRAM AMID US-ISRAELI STRIKES, REPORTS SAY

A satellite image shows the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, vital for global energy supply. (Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)

“As President Trump said today, Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, and the Iranian people welcome the sound of bombs because it means their oppressors are losing. The President will always stand with innocent civilians while annihilating the terrorists responsible for threatening our country and the entire world with a nuclear weapon,” White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly added. “Greater destruction can be avoided if the regime understands the seriousness of this moment and makes a deal with the United States.”

Trump also said Tuesday, “now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?”

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“We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World,” the president added. “47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!”

Greg Norman is a reporter at Fox News Digital.

World

EU made ‘no diplomatic effort’ to end Iran war, says MEP Botenga

Published

5 hours ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

EU made ‘no diplomatic effort’ to end Iran war, says MEP Botenga

In an interview on Euronews’ flagship programme, MEP Marc Botenga (The Left, Belgium) welcomed the two-week ceasefire agreed between the US and Iran, following US President Donald Trump’s announcement mere hours before the expiration of his ultimatum to Tehran.

Yet Botenga was highly critical of the EU’s response to the crisis, telling Euronews’ flagship morning show Europe Today that the EU’s position had been “horrible”.

“The European Union has done nothing, no diplomatic efforts whatsoever for a crisis that not only is violating human rights, is violating international law, but was also violating our interests,” said Botenga.

The two-week ceasefire was announced by Trump on his Truth Social platform overnight on Wednesday. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said it has accepted the ceasefire and would negotiate with the US in Islamabad beginning Friday.

“They (the EU) should have condemned the war. They should have condemned the war crimes,” Botenga said.

The truce comes after Trump ramped up his threats on Tuesday, saying a “whole civilisation will die” if there was no deal with Iran.

According to Botenga, the EU should have condemned the “genocidal rhetoric” used by Trump and failed to identify the true victims of the conflict. “They’ve been speaking about Iran attacking its neighbours rather than Iran being a victim, so we’ve mixed this up,” said Botenga.

Iran has been launching daily barrages of missiles and drones on its neighbours since the beginning of the war on 28 February.

While Tehran claims it is targeting only US and Israeli-linked assets, official reports and Euronews reporters on the ground have shown Tehran has struck civilian targets across the Gulf, including hotels and energy and water-processing facilities.

The strongest response from an EU leader to Trump’s threats came from European Council President António Costa, who warned on Monday that striking civilian infrastructure, like energy facilities, would be “illegal and unacceptable”.

Meanwhile on Tuesday a spokesperson for the European Commission urged Trump to act with “maximum restraint”.

In a message on X after the announcement, the EU’s High Representative Kaja Kallas said this ceasefire is “a step back from the brink”.

The ceasefire does not include Lebanon, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed. For Botenga, Israel has been “ethnically cleansing the south of Lebanon”.

“Why are we silent? Why are our top officials not condemning this? Why we are not taking sanctions?” asked Botenga.

In Lebanon, Israel has been engaged in a campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, who launched what they said was a retaliatory campaign against Israel following the death of Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli bombardment on day one of the war.