How Does CBS Pick Its Games?

[Tugg Speedman]

I assume that CBS gets to pick its game first.  So why do they take the #1/#16 game?  It's interesting for about 15 minutes then becomes a boring one-sided blowout.

Why don't they pick a competitive #8/#9 or #7/#10 game preferably with schools that have large alumni bases?

[79Warrior]

I assume that CBS gets to pick its game first.  So why do they take the #1/#16 game?  It's interesting for about 15 minutes then becomes a boring one-sided blowout.

Why don't they pick a competitive #8/#9 or #7/#10 game preferably with schools that have large alumni bases?

Because the ones typically are teams that get decent ratings. So far it's worked, as ratings are up this year.

[brewcity77]

Duke tonight, Kentucky tonight. Everyone will watch those teams because they either love them or hate them.

[rocky_warrior]

Was wondering this too.  Seems like they pick the most favored team.  Which makes sense in "old tv land", but not so much these days.  They should hire some numbers guys and televise the games that will generate upset interest.

That said, with 4 networks broadcasting, the $'s probably don't change much.

[bradley center bat]

Record day on Thursday. Up 10% from last year.

Duke and Kentucky move the needle, plus the next game is an 8 vs 9.

[Benny B]

I assume that CBS gets to pick its game first.  So why do they take the #1/#16 game?  It's interesting for about 15 minutes then becomes a boring one-sided blowout.

Why don't they pick a competitive #8/#9 or #7/#10 game preferably with schools that have large alumni bases?

Some day, a 16 is going to beat a 1, and it's going to be an instant classic; think about how stupid CBS and the NCAA will look if that game was buried on TruTV (or TBS... please TBS, tonight, if possible)

[Tugg Speedman]

Record day on Thursday. Up 10% from last year.

Duke and Kentucky move the needle, plus the next game is an 8 vs 9.

I get that Kentucky and Duke get an audience at the start of the game.  But how many stay when they are leading by 25 in the second half?  Don't they have a big drop off?

[drewm88]

They take the pair of games, so by going 1/16 and 8/9, they get a big name and a theoretically even matchup.