With all the bad PR the BCS is taking today (and don’t lie to yourself by saying otherwise), is it really that wise for the NCAA to go on the record by stating its openly considering changing the format of the men’s tournament?
It’s not. Then again, the NCAA tends to be as wrong as a $140 pair of gloves in a ski resort shop more often than not.
The option on the yet-to-be-set table is going to 96 teams.
Sports Business Journal released a story this morning that addressed how this could become a reality.
It’s not going to be an immediate change, but the situation is this: CBS owns the right to The Tournament. There’s an opt-out clause at the end of the 2010 season. The NCAA is considering getting out of its deal with CBS and possibly splitting up its coverage between networks (read: ESPN, the only other option out there) or going to another network (again, only ESPN) altogether. ESPN takes over the BCS broadcast rights beginning next year, by the way.
One source said this is just the beginning of a process that will conclude in summer 2010, at the earliest. Greg Shaheen, the NCAA’s senior vice president of basketball and business strategies, is leading the exploration with assists from a pair of well-known college media consultants, former Turner and CBS executive Kevin O’Malley and former ESPN executive Chuck Gerber.
Up at the top of the site we’ve got a link with all the interviews done here at CHJ. There, you’ll find that CBS Sports president Sean McManus and ESPN president George Bodenheimer addressing these possibilities within the past year.
Love The Tournament at 64 teams. Tolerate it at 65. If it expands to 96, the regular season truly becomes worthless. Despite what cynics say, there is value in November-through-February play right. But just because the amount of teams in Division-I is ever-bloated doesn’t mean the most exciting and nearly perfect postseason tournament needs to be tinkered with.
Do not change the format of the best thing about American sports to accommodate television networks. Do not further water down D-I men’s basketball. Stop this conversation before it even starts, because the argument it would turn into isn’t worth having, no matter how many coaches (who, of course, want more games) insist it would be better.
NCAA, TV talk about a bigger men’s tourney {Sports Business Journal}
“Love The Tournament at 64 teams. Tolerate it at 65. If it expands to 96, the regular season truly becomes worthless.”
Exactly. I agree 100%.