It was odd for Saturday's games to NOT be on CBS

[WizardofhOgZ]

I turned on the TV and pulled up the guide Saturday and almost panicked when I couldn't find the NCAA game in the afternoon and evening listings.  I double checked to make sure I was on the right date and channel - CBS.  Then, remembering that some of the earlier games had been spread across TBS, TNT and Tru, I checked those channels and there they were.

Whew!

I understand that for the most part, it really doesn't matter.  If it's on TV, it's only a matter of what digits you punch in your remote to get it.  And I've always felt that way about football - if it's on, I'm fine.  Maybe that's because if it isn't on CBS, the games are on one of the ESPN channels, or FOX sports.  I've never cared one way or another.

But this is the NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen.  It's ALWAYS been on CBS.  It just seemed weird.  Probably, because they weren't even on a "Sports" channel like ESPNX or FOX . . . it was TNT (who carries NBA but a lot of other non-sports programming).

So, I'm not complaining.  Just airing out that I thought it was odd, and that I hadn't heard anything in advance about the change.  I understand in the next year or two, NONE of the tournament will be on CBS.  I guess they're transitioning gradually to that.

Here's a brief article about this: http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/03/tbs-ncaa-tournament-cbs-final-four-elite-eight-why/

[PowderedToastMan]

It is pretty weird that even the Final Four games are on TBS. You would think that CBS would want those on their network. I do like how they split up the games in the earlier rounds. I can switch between the four networks during halftime or timeouts.

[GS99]

It is pretty weird that even the Final Four games are on TBS.

Really?  That is weird.  College basketball is a major network sport not a cable sport.  Don't know if it affects how many actually watch, but it really surprises me that they don't put the games on the top network choice.

[Hogimus Prime]

Not really surprised.  CBS didn't show as many regular season games this year.  They'd show one at 11 or 12 then golf.

[FaytownHog]

Really?  That is weird.  College basketball is a major network sport not a cable sport.  Don't know if it affects how many actually watch, but it really surprises me that they don't put the games on the top network choice.

You'll have to look it up but it was part of the broadcasting deal they all approved 2-3 years ago when they started showing games on other networks. The smaller networks ponied up a bunch of money to offset CBS' cost so as part of the agreement, they wanted to championship games one year and elite 8/sweet 16 a certain amount of time etc.
It's still going to MOSTLY be CBS, but every once and a while, they'll swap it to get TBS/TNT or whoever the big money ad spots.

[Locutus_of_Boar]

But this is the NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen.  It's ALWAYS been on CBS.

It was better when NBC had the tourney, even if it had limited coverage.  Indeed, it was NBC's rotating coverage in 1981, including among others U.S. Reed's famed shot, that created the whole idea of March Madness.

And, it was better in the early years of the CBS contract when ESPN had the first two rounds.

I think CBS is slowly losing interest in college sports.  They've turned the whole NCAA tourney into a gab fest that ought to be called Barkley & Buddies.

[sooiepig_12]

Really?  That is weird.  College basketball is a major network sport not a cable sport.  Don't know if it affects how many actually watch, but it really surprises me that they don't put the games on the top network choice.

Well the national championship for college football is on a cable network.  In this day and age with reality tv and shows like Breaking Bad dominating and nearly everybody having a tv having cable, a game being on the networks really doesn't matter that much except maybe to the old timers

[HotlantaHog]

I am just glad they show all the games instead of switching back and forth so you can never stay on the game you are really interested in.

[jry04]

You'll have to look it up but it was part of the broadcasting deal they all approved 2-3 years ago when they started showing games on other networks. The smaller networks ponied up a bunch of money to offset CBS' cost so as part of the agreement, they wanted to championship games one year and elite 8/sweet 16 a certain amount of time etc.
It's still going to MOSTLY be CBS, but every once and a while, they'll swap it to get TBS/TNT or whoever the big money ad spots.

Turner put up 75% of the money, so they get 75% of the games. That is why they have 3 stations, and cbs has just the one game at a time. They aren't smaller networks. Turner owns TBS, TruTV, TNT, Cartoon Network, CNN, and a few others. They are a multi-billion dollar network that helped cbs out of a bind. As you said, it is in the deal that Turner gets the Final Four. They were allowing CBS to have it a few more year before it started alternating. The U of A actually has someone in the athletic department who was a part of the negotiations for this deal.

If turner did not go in on the joint broadcast with CBS, then the NCAAT would be on ESPN and we would be watching ESPN3 for games.

[moses_007]

I just noticed that today's Final Four is going to be on TBS.  What has happened to March Madness on CBS?  Looks like it went down the tube after they got rid of Billy Packer.  At any rate, I am having difficulty understanding why a sporting event such as the Final Four wouldn't be on CBS like it always has been. 

[moses_007]

I checked the CBS schedule for today and all they show is a bunch of junk on Saturday afternoon.  These networks are forcing everyone to take out some form of pay TV--cable, satellite, etc..-- if you want to watch sports anymore. 

Even most of the bowl games are now on ESPN.  And when the SEC network comes online, there will likely be no over the air Arkansas football games anymore. 

[East Clintwood]

It's called money.  The NCAA is simply selling the TV rights for the maximum they can get.  They don't care about maximizing viewers by keeping coverage on broadcast TV verses cable.

CBS alone couldn't outbid ESPN so they had to partner with Turner.  Turner wants something for their money so they get to share in the whole tournament, not just the early rounds.  I think it alternates back to CBS next year.

[moses_007]

I think the only bowl games on regular broadcast TV are the Sun and Cotton bowls.

[moses_007]

It's called money.  The NCAA is simply selling the TV rights for the maximum they can get.  They don't care about maximizing viewers by keeping coverage on broadcast TV verses cable.

CBS alone couldn't outbid ESPN so they had to partner with Turner.  Turner wants something for their money so they get to share in the whole tournament, not just the early rounds.  I think it alternates back to CBS next year.

There are millions of Americans who don't have TBS.  I am not sure if every cable company carries it.

I wonder if Monday night's championship game will be on TBS too?

[SPAL]

There are millions of Americans who don't have TBS.  I am not sure if every cable company carries it.

I wonder if Monday night's championship game will be on TBS too?

THE NC is on CBS

[McKdaddy]

Packer being moved along was an improvement.

[#1Fan]

The games today are on three channels - TBS, TruTV and TNT.  The national announcers will do the game on TBS, while TruTV and TNT will have each teams' local announcers to give the local bias if fans want to hear that.

[sooiepig_12]

That's pretty cool.  I didn't know that.  As for the OP.  Get with the times.  It's not even really worth it to have a TV without cable or satellite anymore.

[ICEman]

That's pretty cool.  I didn't know that.  As for the OP.  Get with the times.  It's not even really worth it to have a TV without cable or satellite anymore.

Exhibit A:  Apple TV, Roku, Chrome and now Amazon Fire...more to come later.

[sooiepig_12]

Exhibit A:  Apple TV, Roku, Chrome and now Amazon Fire...more to come later.

Those are new high tech options so people who have those probably made the choice to switch over from cable or satellite.  Can you get the final four games tonight with those?

[ErieHog]

THE NC is on CBS

Until spring of 2016, when it starts alternating years between TBS and CBS.

[sooie84]

People complain about games being on cable TV but I don't see anyone longing for the days when we had 3-4 football games and 10-12 BBAll games on a year. Without the cable networks hardly any games would be televised. Plus now with the tourney every game is on. No hoping that you get a live look in at a game for the last 30 seconds.

[moses_007]

That's pretty cool.  I didn't know that.  As for the OP.  Get with the times.  It's not even really worth it to have a TV without cable or satellite anymore.

I have DirecTV... but I can't help but be concerned for people who don't have satellite or cable.  My parents and aunts/uncles never had it....

[JansterZ71]

There are people who don't have cable?  Man I thought this was 2014?

[moses_007]

There are people who don't have cable?  Man I thought this was 2014?

You'd be surprised at who doesn't have it.  Some folks simply can't afford it, and others don't want to waste their money on it.  I have a friend in the Detroit area who makes $85,000 a year and doesn't have cable or satellite.  He told me he can get all the TV he needs for free right out of the air.........

[ricepig]

You'd be surprised at who doesn't have it.  Some folks simply can't afford it, and others don't want to waste their money on it.  I have a friend in the Detroit area who makes $85,000 a year and doesn't have cable or satellite.  He told me he can get all the TV he needs for free right out of the air.........

Think he'll pick up TBS tonight?

[jry04]

I just noticed that today's Final Four is going to be on TBS.  What has happened to March Madness on CBS?  Looks like it went down the tube after they got rid of Billy Packer.  At any rate, I am having difficulty understanding why a sporting event such as the Final Four wouldn't be on CBS like it always has been. 

There is a thread discussing this. It is part of the joint broadcast contract that Turner signed with CBS. CBS could not afford to keep the NCAAT, and was going to lose it to ESPN. Turner came in and paid a larger portion of the money, so they get more games to broadcast. Starting in 2016, the final four and championship will alternate years between cbs and turner networks.

[Danny J]

Think he'll pick up TBS tonight?

If he figures it out then he needs to shoot me a PM.

[moses_007]

Think he'll pick up TBS tonight?

Nope, you can't get TBS with an outside antenna or rabbit ears.

[alohawg]

Nope, you can't get TBS with an outside antenna or rabbit ears.

I'm sure most fans will find a way.

[HawgnCorona]

I'm sure most fans will find a way.

They will...

[TNhogfan]

There are millions of Americans who don't have TBS.  I am not sure if every cable company carries it.

I wonder if Monday night's championship game will be on TBS too?

TBS is in 86.89% of homes - over 99 million home more than any other pay channel including ESPN, TNT and USA Network.  Turner Sports partnered w/ CBS Sports or the NCAA would be on the ESPN networks.  A part of putting up large sums of money is Turner has the Final Four this year and will alternate w/ CBS on the Championship game starting in 2016.

[razorback93]

As someone who had to unplug for financial reasons, this effing sucks Big......

[popcornhog]

I just noticed that today's Final Four is going to be on TBS.  What has happened to March Madness on CBS?  Looks like it went down the tube after they got rid of Billy Packer.  At any rate, I am having difficulty understanding why a sporting event such as the Final Four wouldn't be on CBS like it always has been.

This has been discussed. TBS/TRU/TNT/CBS signed a deal with the NCAA in recent years that has the final 4 on a rotation.

[moses_007]

As someone who had to unplug for financial reasons, this effing sucks Big......

See, not everyone can afford cable.  I know of people who pay over $100 a month for cable or satellite.  Guess that's okay if you're rich, but some folks simply can't afford that.

[Big Papa Satan]

There are people who don't have cable?  Man I thought this was 2014?

Plenty.

[nationwish]

See, not everyone can afford cable.  I know of people who pay over $100 a month for cable or satellite.  Guess that's okay if you're rich, but some folks simply can't afford that.

You don't have to be rich. Plenty of people in section 8 housing have cable and large televisions. I don't know how they afford it all, but it happens somehow.

[McKdaddy]

You don't have to be rich.

This

[Pigsear]

Packer being moved along was an improvement.

+1000

[Pigsear]

You don't have to be rich. Plenty of people in section 8 housing have cable and large televisions. I don't know how they afford it all, but it happens somehow.

Their kids eat about every other day.

[East Clintwood]

Their kids eat about every other day.

Just dinner.  They get breakfast and lunch every day at school, courtesy of you and I.

[Inhogswetrust]

I have DirecTV... but I can't help but be concerned for people who don't have satellite or cable.  My parents and aunts/uncles never had it....

Unfortunately with technology advances some people either get left behind. Some by not because of technology not reaching them but by choice or financial strain. My Mom has a smart phone and we bought her a Kindle a few years ago because she loves to read. she uses her smartphone for nothing except as a phone. She never uses her Kindle and still reads but likes hard print books and magazines better. It's the old dog new tricks adage sometimes. However you can teach an old dog new tricks but that doesn't mean they like the new tricks. Also asking them to buy the new toy for the trick and sometimes they don't want to or can't afford to spend the money. As technology advances there are always those that don't, won't or can't adapt. Nobody however is guaranteed the right to watch a game free.

[Inhogswetrust]

There are people who don't have cable?  Man I thought this was 2014?

Some people still have outhouses. Some still don't have air conditioning. It is 2014 but just because it is available doesn't mean I like brussels sprouts either. Some things are about nostalgia. Some are about decisions where to spend money and if someone thinks that something is frivolous or not. Not the outhouse though!

[Inhogswetrust]

You'd be surprised at who doesn't have it.  Some folks simply can't afford it, and others don't want to waste their money on it.  I have a friend in the Detroit area who makes $85,000 a year and doesn't have cable or satellite.  He told me he can get all the TV he needs for free right out of the air.........

Then he has made a decision that watching sports is not a high priority in his life. Same as my son. He is a Vice President of a high tech company in Silicon Valley yet doesn't have regular TV. He does everything by computer. He always has the latest computer technology at home. Watches a lot of movies. He only likes baseball and the Red Socks primarily. He will travel once a year all the way to Boston to take in a Red Socks series or go see them if they are playing on the left coast. He has been to exactly one college football game. I thought I raised him right but nobody's perfect. I am the one that got him interested in baseball though.

[Inhogswetrust]

As someone who had to unplug for financial reasons, this effing sucks Big......

I sympathize but yet you are on a computer?

[k.c.hawg]

We all make choices with our money that others do not understand or value. My average DirecTv bill is $165-170 mo, when you figure in sports package subscriptions and dvr capability to record 6 programs, throw in high speed internet, various sports internet web sites and I probably spend $250 mo to have all the sports content I want available to me. NFL season tickets, parking, tailgating, MLB tickets for select games, Hog games and travel can easily come to another $5k a year. A lot of people would say that is stupid, too expensive and a waste of money.....yet they might be pulling a $40k bass boat behind a $45k diesel dually and burning $80 of fuel every weekend. TBS is available on the most basic tier of cable on many systems and one step up on others. Every sports bar, wing place, casual bar with tv's have the tournament on.....I cannot feel bad for anyone that chooses to miss it.

[Inhogswetrust]

We all make choices with our money that others do not understand or value. My average DirecTv bill is $165-170 mo, when you figure in sports package subscriptions and dvr capability to record 6 programs, throw in high speed internet, various sports internet web sites and I probably spend $250 mo to have all the sports content I want available to me. NFL season tickets, parking, tailgating, MLB tickets for select games, Hog games and travel can easily come to another $5k a year. A lot of people would say that is stupid, too expensive and a waste of money.....yet they might be pulling a $40k bass boat behind a $45k diesel dually and burning $80 of fuel every weekend. TBS is available on the most basic tier of cable on many systems and one step up on others. Every sports bar, wing place, casual bar with tv's have the tournament on.....I cannot feel bad for anyone that chooses to miss it.

^This. It is usually all about choices one makes as an individual. Besides, last time I checked there isn't a right to free TV.