Final Four Thread

[GB Warrior]

Donte didn't not play his last game at Nova. Brunson and Bridges now that's a different story.

[Mr. Nielsen]

Where did Villanova and Michigan games appear this season?

FOX / FS1 / BTN  -  43 games

ESPN / ESPN2 / ESPNU  -  17 games

CBS / CBSSN  -  12 games

TBS / TNT  -  10 games

[Lennys Tap]

You know, some folks' knee-jerk reaction to DiVincenzo going pro might be "no effen way," but the kid is an excellent athlete with outstanding range, a good handle, good defensive ability, good size.

Gordon Haywardish. A better pro prospect than Vander ever was, IMHO.

He'd be another one who'd be smart to see up close what the NBA thinks of him.

The "no effen way" crowd have never seen him play or don't know what they're watching. His handle isn't great but he's a very, very good athlete who's fearless and has unlimited range. Kid's legit. Haanif Chatham, though? WTF is up with that?

[Lennys Tap]

Can we find a Divencenzo, not even top 100.

The Michael Jordan of Delaware. Rating guys don't get to Delaware much.

[🏀]

The Michael Jordan of Delaware. Rating guys don't get to Delaware much.

[MU82]

Ratings sucked for last night's game:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-march-madness-ends-a-low-note-ncaa-1099242

The Turner suite of channels led Monday night with its coverage of NCAA Championship basketball — but the big game is pacing for an all-time low.

TBS', TNT's and Tru's shared coverage of Villanova's decisive win over the University of Michigan sunk 29 percent from the comparable 2017 game with an all-time low overnight 10.3 rating among households. That capped off a particularly modest run for March Madness. (Final numbers for the game will arrive later Tuesday.)

It was still the biggest thing on TV on Monday night, no doubt contributing to the season low for ABC's American Idol. The singing show was down to a 1.4 rating among adults 18-49 and 7.1 million viewers, losing to The Voice by a solid half-point in the key demo. The Voice led broadcast with a 1.9 rating in the demo and 9.9 million viewers.

CBS and Fox both took a pass on airing originals against basketball, but NBC and ABC both put out original dramas at 10 o'clock. The latest episode of NBC's Good Girls held a 0.9 rating in the key demo, while ABC newcomer The Crossing had a slow start with a 1.0 rating among adults 18-49 and 5.5 million viewers. It did win the hour, at least on the Big Four.

Add this to the fact that NASCAR ratings have been in the dump for years, and we see how this isn't just an "NFL problem."

I'm no expert, but I wonder how they even count people who stream stuff.

I enjoyed the NCAA tournament, but the Final Four was a dud competitively. The women's FF was incredible, in comparison.

[rocky_warrior]

I'm no expert, but I wonder how they even count people who stream stuff.

Nielsen at least counts hulu live and YouTube tv (presumable DTV now too).  I'm guessing they're still missing sling and PlayStation streaming since there's no mention of it.

http://www.businessinsider.com/nielsen-adds-digital-tv-ratings-to-account-for-cord-cutters-2017-7

[Mr. Nielsen]

MU82-
Keep in mind in the link that it failed to say the airing was on cable for the second time, an anti-climactic NCAA Tournament final.

Monday's Villanova-Michigan NCAA Tournament national championship earned a 10.3 overnight rating across TBS, TNT and and down 14% from 2016 on the Turner (TBS) networks (Villanova-UNC: 12.0).

[GooooMarquette]

It probably didn't help that the only question heading into the game was Nova's margin of victory.

[MU82]

Good points, one and all.

Gooooo: This one did seem easier to predict than so many others of recent vintage. Although my memory does suck, so maybe I felt the exact same in other years. But seriously, I thought 6.5 or 7 points was really, really low given what I considered the difference between the teams.

Wish I had been in Vegas, baby!

[GooooMarquette]

Good points, one and all.

Gooooo: This one did seem easier to predict than so many others of recent vintage. Although my memory does suck, so maybe I felt the exact same in other years. But seriously, I thought 6.5 or 7 points was really, really low given what I considered the difference between the teams.

Wish I had been in Vegas, baby!

Yeah, I was kinda surprised by the spread. I thought it should have been at least double digits.

Mrs. Goooo has a strict no-gambling rule, but I tried to convince her that this was more like an investment than gambling. She didn't buy it.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

the ridiculously late start time couldn't have helped either. 

[Mr. Nielsen]

the ridiculously late start time couldn't have helped either.

It's been that way forever. Not really too much later when ESPN, FS1, CBSSN have game 2 of their doubleheaders during the regular season. The problem is more in the tournament that makes games longer are longer timeouts and 20 minute halftime.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

the ridiculously late start time couldn't have helped either.

Being on cable instead of network TV is one factor. Comparing 2018 to 2016 is more of an apples to apples comparison.

The game becoming a blowout is another factor.  The last three title games were much more competitive.

[nyg]

- Late start, 9:25pm ET
- Game not being on CBS
- Jim Nantz yelling while announcing game, he was very annoying. 
- Ratings would have been better with a Duke, Kentucky, UNC, in game. 

[Mr. Nielsen]

It's been the same time start since almost forever.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

It's been the same time start since almost forever.

Then change it to start earlier.  when kids can't watch the game because it starts at 8:30 on a school night, that's a problem for 1) not attracting kids 2) parents who have to put their kids to bed.

[Spotcheck Billy]

Then change it to start earlier.  when kids can't watch the game because it starts at 8:30 on a school night, that's a problem for 1) not attracting kids 2) parents who have to put their kids to bed.

But will that really help ratings when folks on the west coast are still at work/commuting?

[warriorchick]

But will that really help ratings when folks on the west coast are still at work/commuting?

That's what DVRs are for.

[GooooMarquette]

That's what DVRs are for.

Absolutely.

I very much prefer when a MU game starts a little earlier than I can start watching, because it's easy to set the DVR and catch up. I often get to start our 6 pm games at 6:30, and it works great.

For late games, I could always DVR the end of a game for later viewing...but it's a lot less convenient and realistic to try going the whole next day without finding out the score so I can watch the end after work.

As between the two, too early is MUCH more fan friendly than too late....

[MU82]

I haven't had DVR service since Sept. 1, and it is the one thing I miss since unplugging.

I used to love recording sporting events and then starting to watch them about an hour after tip-off or kickoff or first pitch. I'd gradually catch up and I wouldn't have to watch commercials or halftime. Plus, I could stop for pee breaks, beer runs, etc.

There have been a few other minor irritations, but I admit to enjoying the $$$ savings, and day-to-day non-sports program watching has been fine.

But the no DVR thing has stung. By next Sept. 1, I'm pretty sure we will go back to having some DVR capabilities.

[Dr. Blackheart]

That's what DVRs are for.

What's a DVR?

[Mr. Nielsen]

Then change it to start earlier.  when kids can't watch the game because it starts at 8:30 on a school night, that's a problem for 1) not attracting kids 2) parents who have to put their kids to bed.

Come on, kids are not going to bed at 8:30pm. So, what did kids do for the past 30 years? I watched it as a kid. Are u saying kids don't watch SNF and MNF or the NBA Finals. All these events end around 10:35PM.

[Mr. Nielsen]

That's what DVRs are for.

Ya, advertisers will not go for that. Turner/CBS need that money to pay the bills.

[GGGG]

So, what did kids do for the past 30 years? I watched it as a kid. Are u saying kids don't watch SNF and MNF. NBA Finals. All these events end around 10:35PM.

Kids who have to go to bed at 8:30 aren't exactly in the target market either.

And I've never understood the whole "put the kids to bed thing."  Get them dressed, read them a book, kiss them good night.  10 minutes max.