[NU Sports] NCAA Poised to Expand to Field of 96; NIT Slated for Extinction

[Sportsbiz]

The main point of 96 is to extract additional money out of CBS/Turner or
ESPN/ABC.  The $6 billion, 11 year contract has an opt out clause giving the
NCAA the right to opt out this year and as part of the negotiations over a
new contract, this whole misbegotten idea came rolling out of the TV trucks.
 CBS is losing money on its current deal and thinks an extra weekend, if
indeed that is the way it's structured, will more than make up the
difference.  I think they are spending way too much time in Black Rock if
they think they can sell the new first weekend the same way they sell 64.

In any event, assuming it goes to 96, which is by no means certain, there is
a strong movement among administrative/educational types to make it Mon.,
Tuesday of the first week so that the kids don't miss another week of class
in what is, for many schools although not NU, mid-terms period.  Now, if CBS
or ESPN think they can get ratings high enough to justify the price of a new
contract when they're selling 32 play-in games played during the weekday and
another 32 on the weekend, well, I would sure like to share in whatever it
is they're smoking.

Whether it ultimately ends up at 96 will be determined by the final bids
from CBS/Turner (itself a scary thought) and ESPN.  The latter despertaly
wants the tournament back and will do almost anything to get it.  It is
likely to outbid CBS without going to 96 games if it senses the wind is not
shifting in that direction.  But if its intelligence says the schools want
96, you can bet with certainty that as far putting money on the table, ESPN
will accept 96, use all of its vast resources and outbid CBS. Whether that
will be enough is what makes the game interesting.
Mark

Mark S. Ament
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On Wed, Feb 3, 2010 at 3:34 PM, Eric West <e-west at northwestern.edu> wrote:

> As far as I can determine, the main point of 96 would be to help the
> BCS-conference teams that are currently left out of the current 65-team
> format.
>
> I'm not saying I agree; I always marvel each selection Sunday when
> commentators whine about those poor BCS teams not getting a "chance" after
> having finished sixth or seventh in their conference, even begrudging the
> few non-BCS schools who receive at-large bids (getting fewer by the year).
>
> I view it as a cousin of the mentality that gives us 34 bowl games in
> football. When it gets to that stage, money is far less relevant; the main
> point is that no qualifying (i.e., .500 or above) BCS school be turned away.
> After all, think of those poor kids who work so hard, blah blah blah...
>
> Eric West
> e-west at northwestern.edu
>
>
>
> Tom Maycock wrote:
>
>> 96? Why????
>>
>> I've always thought 64 was way too many to begin with. A good portion of
>> the 64 teams already have essentially no chance whatsoever of winning the
>> tournament, and no #1 team should have to waste time playing a #16 seed. So
>> what's the point of expanding to 96?
>> OK, I know, the "point" is making money, but sheesh. Why not just cancel
>> the whole season and just play the tournament?
>>
>> Tom
>>
>>
>
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Mark S. Ament
sportsbiz at gmail.com
SportsBiz - The Business of Sports
Illuminated<http://thesportsbizblog.blogspot.com>
When it comes to sports, you know it's all about the money
Stay tuned for the exciting new SportsBiz coming your way soon
Chat Skype: marksament
Contact Me [image: Twitter] <twitter:%20msament>