New NCAA Tourney TV Deal

I didn't go in to this, BUT while CBS' coverage leaves something to be desired at times (like no ability to successfully show 2 games at once is annoying), I think the teaming up with Turner has a lot of potential. Giving 3 more networks they can show games on will let us all watch any game, and won't lock us in to whatever CBS decides regionally we deserve. I am concerned about Turner's coverage abilities though...

As much as I hate the pomposity of THE network and love the NCAA slapping them in the face, at least they already had the personnel and experience covering college b-ball (AND their new ESPN3 online streaming tool is awesome for watching multiple games at once). I'm sure they'll figure it out, but seriously, Charles Barkley covering college ball?? He barely knows the NBA! Haha I guess I'm just worried that one of my top 5 favorite sporting events is going to get sullied by those rogues from ATL... At least we can be assured of more years of GU fans griping people can't pronounce their school's name (Even though technically they mis-pronounce the Spanish pronunciation, but who am I to judge...)

A bit more on the TV deal:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118018159.html?categoryid=14&cs=1

And check out THIS little clause:

Beginning in 2016, coverage of the regional finals will be split by CBS and Turner, and the Final Four and the National Championship game will alternating every year between CBS and TBS.

Uhhhhh, seriously?? The Final Four and championship game NOT on network TV? That kinda rubs me the wrong way...

DaTruRochin wrote:A bit more on the TV deal:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118018159.html?categoryid=14&cs=1

And check out THIS little clause:

Beginning in 2016, coverage of the regional finals will be split by CBS and Turner, and the Final Four and the National Championship game will alternating every year between CBS and TBS.

Uhhhhh, seriously?? The Final Four and championship game NOT on network TV? That kinda rubs me the wrong way...

Me too. I only have over the air TV. I refuse to pay for cable/satellite year round just to watch the few shows I want to see (which only show new shows in season of course....) and a couple of sporting events. I have a 73" TV I use to watch TV shows and movies off Blu-Ray or whatever and always enjoyed watching the NCAA tournament on it in HD via antenna. If there were an option to subscribe to cable/satellite for certain events only, fine, they could get some of my money. As is, every other year I'll have to go watch this somewhere else in all likelihood on an inferior TV.

I'm happy they didn't go to 96 teams, but cable only networks for the finals? WTF.

2016 is a LOOONg way off in the media world.

This year I watched several games on the web, and despite having what is now considered pretty slow broadband, it was almost acceptable.

If I had purchased broadband only twice as fast, it would probably been equivalent to non-HDTV.

Remember what internet video was like 6 years ago?


By 2016, we may all be on the web for all our TV. What does the contract say about online rights?

BUT I WANT IT NOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!

I thought I'd be able to make it through 2:16...
But I couldn't.

Was the whole movie like that?

Haha basically, I think you had to grow up with it and have that nostalgic attachment to really be able to tolerate it later in life.... (And in the movie's defense, she is supposed to be a really annoying character)

The NY Times has an article today that fleshes out the TV deal a bit.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/23/sports/ncaabasketball/23ncaa.html

Among the tidbits:

Over the 14 life of the contract, The Turner stations will show about 609 of the 938 games, so this is more than a 50-50 split between the corporations and looks more like a Turner takeover. CBS claims it would have lost 50 million next year under the old contract.


The NCAA revenue will increase to 771 million per year, up from the 700 million the NCAA would make each of the next three years (and the 531 per year average under the current contract).

There is apparently a provision in the contract that the tournament could still increase to 96 teams at some point.

Expect that the online coverage won't be free forever.


Also expect that your cable fees will go up sometime before the 6th year of the contract.


Finally, I'm taking an informal poll ---

Who has truTV in their TV subscription package?

I do when I'm in Tacoma... I think it's a re-branded version of "Court TV"

Purplegeezer wrote:Finally, I'm taking an informal poll ---

Who has truTV in their TV subscription package?

A non-HD version here...well, at least whatever is on that channel right now is standard def.