The $ will set you free!

[GumbyDamnit!]

Nova grad here. Everyone seems to be focused on who the best programs are in 2013 and missing a little bit of the big picture. I believe the new conference will be a mix of solid programs but more importantly fertile TV markets. As much as we don't like it, $ drives the bus. And we can bemoan the BCS schools but the reality is that schools need to jump on the bandwagon or be left behind. People keep talking about St. John's, Depaul and Providence not pulling their weight. I agree that it would be nice if a SHU or DePaul made the tourney every now and again to remain relevant. But look at those TV markets that the C7 bring with them. Chicago, NY, Philly, DC. If they can add OH, St. Louis, IN, etc., then they can command a better TV deal that will lead to exposure that recruits see, and allow for them to attract better coaches, who recruit better, etc., etc., etc. Focus on solid programs in solid markets. Don't become obesssed with the current RPI's of every program as the only determining factor. If Billy Donovan some day is tired of being 2nd fiddle at FLA and wants to coach his alma mater, do you think Providence will be relevant again real soon? If Stevens leaves Butler do they fall off the hoops cliff as quickly as they ascended? Decisions can't be made for 2013 alone. Depaul and VCU can't be compared in terms of recent success, but I'd bet on Depaul for the long haul. And I'm hearing a lot of complaints from UD fans, etc. that they will demand an equal share or tell the C7 to pound sand. Really? You wouldn't want to jump on board what could become the premeir BB-only conference and make 5x what you were making in a good, but soon to be stripped, A-10? C'mon already. The $ will be worked out; everything is negotiable. Stop with that nonsense thinking.

[Dew]

I'm not sure television markets are driving this. It's not like the Big Ten network trying to make massive dollars by forcing new markets to add their network to basic cable. What the TV guys want is a national presence- Gonzaga, for example would bring a lot more than Seton Hall even though its in a much small market.

[medford]

I doubt the TV execs care much about national prestige, they care about people tuning in to watch. Fordham is in a large market, few w/n that market give a rats behind about Fordham basketball.

[Dew]

I doubt the TV execs care much about national prestige, they care about people tuning in to watch. Fordham is in a large market, few w/n that market give a rats behind about Fordham basketball.

Which means they care about national interest not the size of the local market.

[Edrick]

Lifted from the other board....

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College basketball "markets" are vastly different than media markets.

The best I've ever heard in described. NCAA basketball "lives" in the triangle connecting Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Louisville.


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For the ninth year in a row, Louisville ranked as the No. 1 city for March Madness as Louisville had the highest average television rating and share for the run of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

In the 56 top markets where Nielson produces overnight ratings statistics, WLKY-TV averaged a 21.6 rating and 36 share.

Second was Memphis with a 16.9 rating and 26 share.

Markets * Rating/Share
1. Louisville 21.0/36
2. Memphis 16.9/26
3. Charlotte 13.4/24
4. Indianapolis 13.0/24
5. Kansas City 12.1/22
6. Cincinnati 11.9/24
7. Columbus, Ohio 11.7/22
7. Greensboro, N.C 11.7/21
7. Nashville 11.7/20
10. Raleigh-Durham 11.4/20

Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/kentucky ... z2HPao2Xft

[GumbyDamnit!]

Dew totally disagree. If you don't think Exec's care about # of TV's in a market then you are fooling yourself. Most of the games they televise are going to be regional games. I buy into your belief that on a national level people will want to see a Gonzaga vs. VCU matchup in 2013. But the reality is they need to tie into the big markets for this to work. If 30% of the Omaha market tunes in for a Creighton game and 5% of the NY market tunes in for a St. John's game, the advertising dollars from that NY market is going to dwarf the NB one. It's just the reality. Why is the $ so important? Because if schools can re-invest in their programs, the success will be self-sustaining for a long time, and everyone's program rises together. That's the key. So even though Butler and Creighton may sell out every game, and St. john's and DePaul currently struggle, they both really need each other for this to work. Exposure in these markets will only help Butler and Creighton become true national programs. And for these outside schools to be able to overnight add $2M-$3M in TV revenue alone is huge. Adding Gonzaga down the road would be ideal, because they fit the mold. The idea of casting off a Depaul because they are not performing in 2013 is ludicrous, because CHI is so important as a market.

[Dew]

This is all from crazy Wichita St guy though so view it with warped bizarro glasses

Lifted from the other board.....

-----
College basketball "markets" are vastly different than media markets.

The best I've ever heard in described. NCAA basketball "lives" in the triangle connecting Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Louisville.


---------------------
For the ninth year in a row, Louisville ranked as the No. 1 city for March Madness as Louisville had the highest average television rating and share for the run of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

In the 56 top markets where Nielson produces overnight ratings statistics, WLKY-TV averaged a 21.6 rating and 36 share.

Second was Memphis with a 16.9 rating and 26 share.

Markets * Rating/Share
1. Louisville 21.0/36
2. Memphis 16.9/26
3. Charlotte 13.4/24
4. Indianapolis 13.0/24
5. Kansas City 12.1/22
6. Cincinnati 11.9/24
7. Columbus, Ohio 11.7/22
7. Greensboro, N.C 11.7/21
7. Nashville 11.7/20
10. Raleigh-Durham 11.4/20

Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/kentucky ... z2HPao2Xft

[GumbyDamnit!]

So I am to believe that Albuquerque, Tampa, Norfolk, Ft. Myers, Jacksonville are all better TV BB markets than Philly. I've seen all I need to see with that analysis.

[Edrick]

You are not reading that correctly.

The shares need to then be multiplied by the population.

In most simple terms, 1 mm people in Indianapolis is worth several more times the same million people living in New York, for example.

[GumbyDamnit!]

There is little debate that L'ville is a great basketball town. But let's look at the facts...Louisville metro = 1.3M people. NY metro = 19M people. So even if 10% of the # of households are watching March Madness in NY and 100% in Loiusville, there are still roughly 50% more people watching BB in NY during that broadcast. Let that sink in for a minute....