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This isn't exactly an apples to apples comparison for a couple reasons: First, the data comes from different services. The NCAA ratings come from ShowBuzzDaily, which was basically hacked and shut down in May; the NBA ratings come from SportsMediaWatch, which isn't great about providing the underlying data. In both cases, the underlying data appears to come from Neilsen. Second, the NCAA Tournament is a lot more games than the NBA Finals; so this data is essentially from the final six games of the NCAA Tournament: three of the four games of the Elite 8 and the three Final Four games. Finally, the NBA is now apparently adjusting up its views number by adding bars and restaurants; I have no idea if the NCAA was doing the same.
Here is the data on ratings:
Here is the data on ratings:
| Game | Rating |
| Oregon St. v. Houston | 3.50 |
| Arkansas v. Baylor | 3.78 |
| UCLA v. Michigan | 3.95 |
| UCLA v. Gonzaga | 7.56 |
| Houston v. Baylor | 4.41 |
| Gonzaga v. Baylor | 9.39 |
| NCAA Average | 5.43 |
| NBA Finals Game 1 | 5.2 |
| NBA Finals Game 2 | 4.5 |
| NBA Finals Game 3 | 5.1 |
| NBA Finals Game 4 | 4.7 |
| NBA Finals Game 5 | 4.8 |
| NBA Finals Game 6 | 6.6 |
| NBA Final Average | 5.15 |