Wow - ESPN is looking to give back $20 million because of low ratings for the college football playoffs, and in 4 of the next 6 years the first round is slated to be on New Years Eve.
That is a tough sell to have people stay home and watch football on New Years eve, even for older folks and not just singles.
It started off so well last year with two great games on New Year's Day. This year, not only were they on NYE, but the games were terrible. Really most of the bowls were terrible this year too. Really poor ending to the season.
But the New Years Eve scheduling was dumb from the beginning, and everyone knew it. They should have moved the games to Saturday, January 2 this year.
Those two games should have been on Saturday. First off, on New Year's Eve many people work a good chunk of the day. After that, they are getting ready to go out to dinner, parties etc. You won't beat New Year's Eve.
Next - no wonder the Bowl games aren't great. They are pre-planned matchups, not matchups for a reason, or specifics that people want to see. Instead we have the 4th place Big 10 team against the 7th place SEC team etc. Too pre-planned, would rather see some made for TV matchups like you do in the non conference.
"When March Madness spills into April.... that's the gravy!" - Homer Simpson
Pity to see ESPN struggle. My heart bleeds (and so does their pocketbook...)
90% of quotes on the internet are wrong.
- Abraham Lincoln
The other group of 5 teams also said the heck with the big 5 aligning with almost all of the bowls and created their own bowls.
This led to the need to allow teams under .500 into bowl games, and that did get a lot of publicity. Not sure if that affected the ratings or not, but just a negative pre bowl game vibe with under .500 teams and New Year's Eve playoffs.
I don't feel sorry for ESPN for overpaying again on the rights deal. The Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl are locked in with the 80 million deal for each bowl, for the NYD and timeslots at 4pm and 7:30pm before the CFP ever came around. 2 out every 3 year the semi-finals fall on NYE.
March Madness starts in November
Last edited by Goose85; 01-08-2016 at 04:30 PM.
"I'll say it again...Dwyane Wade is the 3rd best SG of all-time...right behind Jordan and Bryant." - Mark Jackson
Might help next year as NYE is on a Saturday.
March Madness starts in November