In a landmark deal which was marked by a ton of speculation and criticism by coaches, fans, and bloggers all across the web, the NCAA has once again struck a deal with CBS, along with Turner Broadcasting, for broadcast rights for the 2011 NCAA Tournament. In turn, the tournament committee agreed to add 3 more teams to the current 65 team field, which has existed since the 2001 season. A 68 team field is much more slim-lined than the original 80 or 96 team models that were being discussed during this year’s Final Four.
With games to be broadcast across 4 channels, CBS, TNT, TBS, and TruTV, starting in 2011, fans will now have their choice of being able to view any and every game in the tourney for the first time in it’s 73 year history. This is a marked contrast to being forced to watch whichever game CBS decided to telecast, depending on your viewing area. This follows what CBS has done for the past 2 years by streaming every game live online at CBSSports.com. Games in the first two rounds will be broadcast across all four channels, with CBS retaining coverage of Regional Finals, the Final Four, and Championship Game.
Beginning in 2016, the later rounds will be alternated between the two networks, which may cause a bit of controversy since not everyone has cable television. Many fans are already wondering why the best post-season playoff system will be shifting away from basic television. Also, fans may be less than thrilled with listening to TNT or TBS broadcasters call games, which is something they haven’t done all season. We all know what a disaster watching the MLB Playoffs on TBS was last year.
The NCAA’s deal with CBS and Atlanta based, Turner Broadcasting System runs through 2024. Much had been made of the tourney’s possible move to ESPN, which covers 90% of NCAA Basketball during the regular season and conference tournaments, but in the end, the sporting giant came up a bit short in their final bid to secure the rights to March Madness. This is the statement made by ESPN on their website:
“We made an aggressive bid and believe our combination of TV distribution, digital capabilities, season-long coverage and year-round marketing would have served the interests of the NCAA and college fans very well.”
Unfortunately in the end it came down to dollars and cents, and ESPN came up a tad short. Here’s a quote from a TBS executive which sums up their excitement about securing rights to the NCAA Tourney:
“This is a landmark deal for Turner Broadcasting and we’re extremely pleased to begin a long-term relationship with the NCAA and our partners at CBS and to have a commitment that extends well into the next decade.”
Full details of the deal are not yet available but here is some of the stipulations concerning adding the additional 3 teams to the field:
In keeping in the mold of the current play-in game format, each region will now have their very own play-in game as well. The winner of each of the four elimination games has the lucky reward of having to play the #1 seed in each region.
Rumors are that the longer 80 or 96 team format that most coaches favored was scrapped over concerns about the student/athletes missing too much time away from the classroom. What a joke. They should just admit that this scenario makes the most sense financially for the universities, which stand to divide an estimated $740 million from TV revenue with the new deal in place.
Duke now has the distinction of being the last NCAA champion in the now defunct 65 team format. Let us know your opinion. does the new format work or would the larger 96 team field work better?
Allen Moll is an avid NBA and College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen is a regular columnist for thehoopdoctors.com, Bleacherreport.com, UpperDeckblog.com, and his own site, Hoops Haven.
