CBS and Turner record historic Thursday night viewership for Sweet 16

CBS and Turner issued a press release outlining their viewership numbers following Thursday's Sweet 16 matchups and the results are quite impressive.

The Regional Semifinals on Thursday brought in the highest ever rating for the Sweet 16 and since the NCAA tournament began in its current TV format in 1991. Thursday's games averaged a 9.1/16 overnight rating based on Nielsen metered market ratings, a 30-percent increase over 7.0/13 rating in 2014.

From the release:

NCAA March Madness Live has also delivered a record-setting 59 million live video streams through Thursday, a 10% increase over last year. It has netted 12.5 million live hours of video consumption through the second Thursday of the tournament, an all-time record and 11% increase through the same period a year ago. Thursday’s Sweet 16 coverage led to a 59% increase among live video streams and a 53% spike in live hours of video consumption over the comparable period in 2014.

Additionally, the NCAA Tournament has grossed a record 134 million total social impressions across Facebook and Twitter through the second Thursday for a 46% increase over 2014.