CBS’ First-Day Coverage Of The NCAA Tourney Up 2%
CBS earned an average 4.9/10 overnight Nielsen for its four broadcast windows
of the first day of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, up 2.1% from a 4.8/10
last year, earning the third best overall rating for the first day of the tournament
since a 5.1/12 in '93. The chart below presents a window-by-window comparison
for the tournament’s first day over the previous two years (THE DAILY).
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CBS'
NCAA TOURNAMENT OVERNIGHT RATINGS FOR FIRST-DAY COVERAGE
|
|
WINDOW
|
'06
|
'05
|
%+/-
|
'04
|
%+/-
|
|
12:00-3:15pm
|
3.2/10
|
3.3/11^
|
NA
|
3.3/11
|
-3.0%
|
|
3:15-6:00pm
|
4.1/10
|
3.8/10
|
7.9%
|
3.7/10
|
10.8%
|
|
7:00-10:30pm
|
6.4/10
|
5.9/10
|
8.5%
|
6.2/10
|
3.2%
|
|
10:30pm-12:30am
|
6.4/12
|
6.5/11
|
-1.5%
|
6.7/11
|
-4.5%
|
|
ONE-DAY
AVG.
|
4.9/10
|
4.8/10
|
2.1%
|
5.1/10
|
-3.9%
|
NOTES: ^ = Fast-national rating. NA = Not applicable.
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Pacific-BC Double OT Game
Presents Challenge For CBS |
OVERCOMING CHALLENGES: On Long Island, Neil Best writes despite “variables
such as a double OT” game for Pacific-Boston College and a bomb scare at Cox Arena
before Marquette-Alabama, CBS’ “juggling of games appeared to go smoothly” (NEWSDAY,
3/17). In San Diego, Jay Posner writes CBS “provided periodic updates of the
evacuation of Cox Arena [Thursday] morning, then altered its schedule to accommodate
the later start times.” CBS Sports Senior VP/Programming Mike Aresco: “We had
to do some scrambling, but all seems to have ended well.” Posner notes the biggest
change was that the entire Gonzaga-Xavier game wasn’t seen in San Diego because
it conflicted with UCLA-Belmont. But viewers still saw the conclusion” (UNION-TRIBUNE,
3/17).
HITTING THE SWITCH: In the Charlotte market, viewers trying to watch the
second overtime of Pacific-Boston College were switched back and forth to the
first few minutes of Winthrop-Tennessee. Both the DirecTV and March Madness On
Demand feeds were unavailable due to local blackout rules. During the final three
minutes of the BC game, WBTV switched back and forth between the two games, but
viewers missed most of BC’s run that sealed their victory. While Winthrop is located
in Rock Hill, South Carolina, just a few minutes from Charlotte, one viewer in
New Providence, New Jersey, told THE DAILY that she experienced similar frustrations
and did not see the end of the BC game (THE DAILY). In Houston, David Barron
writes a viewer in L.A. complained that CBS left the Pacific-BC game for Winthrop-Tennessee,
“then failed to pick up the game in favor of second-half action in Marquette-Alabama”
(HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/17). CBS Sports VP/Communications LeslieAnne Wade
said that the Charlotte market and the state of Tennessee were automatically switched
to the start of Winthrop-Tennessee because the local CBS affiliates deemed themselves
as “constant” markets for those schools. She said of other markets experiencing
the same situation, “It just couldn’t have happened. It’s physically impossible”
(THE DAILY).
MEETING DEMAND: Time Warner, CBS and CSTV are making available for purchase
condensed versions of 63 tournament games to Time Warner customers. All games
cost $0.99. Bundles of two condensed games of 10-20 minutes each in the first
and second round will be offered for the price of one. From the regionals through
the final, each game will be 15-20 minutes in length. The content will be available
through April 10. CBS and CSTV also announced a deal with iTunes earlier this
week to offer condensed games for download (THE DAILY).
MORE CRITICISM FOR LITTLEPAGE: Univ. of Virginia AD and tournament selection
committee chair Craig Littlepage on Monday suggested CBS’ Billy Packer and Jim
Nantz should have been more respectful of the NCAA in light of the CBS-NCAA contract
after the pair criticized the committee’s work in selecting the tournament field.
In L.A., Larry Stewart writes Nantz and Packer “should be complimented for not
letting their network’s relationship with the NCAA influence their comments” (L.A.
TIMES, 3/17). In Miami, Barry Jackson writes Littlepage’s suggestion “was
laughable. If Littlepage doesn’t want criticism, don’t take the job” (MIAMI
HERALD, 3/17). In California, Jim Carlisle writes Littlepage “needs to understand
CBS ... does not agree to give up its journalistic integrity or its right to criticize
in order to” televise the games (VENTURA COUNTY STAR, 3/17). NEWSDAY’s
Best writes it “was about time someone had the guts” to criticize the selection
committee (NEWSDAY, 3/17). In N.Y., Bob Raissman: “Nantz and Packer did
exactly what they should have.” But the bigger issue is “how will Littlepage’s
words affect CBS’ coverage of the tournament? The verbal counterpunch he threw
is still ringing in CBS suits’ ears.” More Raissman: “CBS coverage of the NCAA
Tournament never was, and never, ever will be, a journalistic enterprise” (N.Y.
DAILY NEWS, 3/17).
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