The $ will set you free!

[Edrick]

That was neat math, but its more like 20% of the TV sets in Louisville and 1% in NY.

Proceed....

[GumbyDamnit!]

I'd like to see the data on that please. Can you provide a direct link? 20% and 1% were pulled directly out of your arse. I even conceded a 10 to 1 spread, which we all know is nonsense (it's probably more like 5 to 1 spread), NY viwers still outnumber KY viewers considerably. Are you serioously trying to tell us that more people in KY tuned into March Madness than NYC. I would venture to say that there were probably close to $1.3M sitting in bars and rexstaurants in NYC on the Friday of March Madness alone. I don't think you are able to grasp the comparitive differences in size of some of these markets.

[Edrick]

What are you talking about? That link that was provided and here it is again, friend...... http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=609208

BTW, I have Louisville a haircut from their 30% of sets because having Louisville and Kentucky in the Final Four, I figured, probably skewed it last year.

Shows you everything you need.

-------------------
New York, or more generally either coast barring North Carolina, simply isn't that fertile of an area for college basketball viewership. Its one thing to have a lot of television sets, its another thing entirely to have those televisions cognizant of your programming.

[GumbyDamnit!]

Two KY teams = more KY tv's tuned in. Wow, big surprise there. It's never going to be any better for possible viwership in KY than to have two of their own in the tourney or the FF for that matter. But for every KY set there are 15 NY sets. The point isn't about tuning into sets for 2012 or 2013 alone. It's about what areas have the best potential for viewership. Fordham and Hofstra are irrelevant. Rutgers has been terrible from day one in which they entered the Big East. Perrenial doormats. There is no real college FB team near metro NY (Rutgers thinks it is, but it's not). The only viable way to capture a part of that NY market for local college athletics is through SJU or SHU hoops.

Maybe I am slow. But you seem to be looking at this I-net board submission as some sort of factual link and saying that since these are the largest viewers per capita than they are the most desirable markets to target. Show me the long-term viewership trends of NYC and Philly and DC (in actual TV sets) vs. Wichita, L'ville, Omaha, KC, Tampa or any other town that you think is more desireable than NYC, Philly, DC, New England, CHI, etc., metro areas. Where is the direct link to the Neilson # over the past 10 years so we can look at it impirically. NYC metro has 19M people. 19 MILLION! As I said, if you grab 5% of those sets for March Madness, it is 50% more than if L'ville (in a year that it is competing against their bitter rival in a FF) had every man, woman and child tuning in. How are you missing this? And to say that pro sports fans cause a split in viewership is not a sound argument--its seems that the poster is just guessing that's what happens. Most of my firends watch NFL games, NHL, MLB , NCAAB and NCAAF games one after the other.

[GumbyDamnit!]

[quote="Edrick"]

"Its one thing to have a lot of television sets,"

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You should have just stopped there. Isn't this the point? Find the areas that have the greatest potential in order to maximize the TV dollars. This is exactly what the TV Exec's are looking for. If the Big East could deliver NC, L'Ville, and Mich State, the TV Exec's would tell them to ask those 3 to join. But the C7 have to choose between what else is out there and they have to balance between good reputation to make it a sound league and TV audiences so they can maximize their investments. U

[Edrick]

Did you really just blather on asking for MORE market data?

I'm the only one in this thread that has actually submitted true market data.

You are more than welcome to commission Neilson or TR or whomever, if you'd like. Its going to tell you the same thing, but knock yourself out.

You are just incorrect. Move on

[Dew]

Forget local market size. They don't matter when dealing with a national tv contract. If Gonzaga can bring 1% of all college basketball watchers that's better than a team like Dayton brining a portion of Ohio and nothing else. Think big picture.

[Bluejay]

Nova grad here. Everyone seems to be focused on who the best programs are in 2013 and missing a little bit of the big picture. I believe the new conference will be a mix of solid programs but more importantly fertile TV markets. As much as we don't like it, $ drives the bus. And we can bemoan the BCS schools but the reality is that schools need to jump on the bandwagon or be left behind. People keep talking about St. John's, Depaul and Providence not pulling their weight. I agree that it would be nice if a SHU or DePaul made the tourney every now and again to remain relevant. But look at those TV markets that the C7 bring with them. Chicago, NY, Philly, DC. If they can add OH, St. Louis, IN, etc., then they can command a better TV deal that will lead to exposure that recruits see, and allow for them to attract better coaches, who recruit better, etc., etc., etc. Focus on solid programs in solid markets. Don't become obesssed with the current RPI's of every program as the only determining factor. If Billy Donovan some day is tired of being 2nd fiddle at FLA and wants to coach his alma mater, do you think Providence will be relevant again real soon? If Stevens leaves Butler do they fall off the hoops cliff as quickly as they ascended? Decisions can't be made for 2013 alone. Depaul and VCU can't be compared in terms of recent success, but I'd bet on Depaul for the long haul. And I'm hearing a lot of complaints from UD fans, etc. that they will demand an equal share or tell the C7 to pound sand. Really? You wouldn't want to jump on board what could become the premeir BB-only conference and make 5x what you were making in a good, but soon to be stripped, A-10? C'mon already. The $ will be worked out; everything is negotiable. Stop with that nonsense thinking.

I think you are missing the point and we may be seeing our first case of east coast bias here.

Xavier, Dayton, Butler and Creighton aren't willing to be bribed, just to be relegated to second class status for 12 years. We have very strong, proud programs that frankly are pretty flush with cash right now. Further, we don't believe that some members of the BE 7 are as relevant nationally as they seem to think that they are.

Nobody cares who won what 20, 30, 40 or 50 years ago. Nationally people want to watch games of the best teams with the best players. Right now a game between Seton Hall and Providence isn't moving the needle nationally. Hell, it isn't even moving the needle in those teams' local markets if attendance is any gauge. However, take a game between Butler and Creighton, two top 20 teams, and you've got a game with national interest and relevance.

[butlerguy03]

Nobody cares who won what 20, 30, 40 or 50 years ago. Nationally people want to watch games of the best teams with the best players. Right now a game between Seton Hall and Providence isn't moving the needle nationally. Hell, it isn't even moving the needle in those teams' local markets if attendance is any gauge. However, take a game between Butler and Creighton, two top 20 teams, and you've got a game with national interest and relevance.

Example: Gonzaga at Butler, January 19th: ESPN Gameday live will be broadcast from Hinkle leading up to a 9pm tipoff with much fanfare and national interest. No doubt these two programs are the standard bearers for the "new" elite. Don't think they're going to any Seton Hall - Providence games anytime soon.

[GumbyDamnit!]

Did you really just blather on asking for MORE market data?

I'm the only one in this thread that has actually submitted true market data.

You are more than welcome to commission Neilson or TR or whomever, if you'd like. Its going to tell you the same thing, but knock yourself out.

You are just incorrect. Move on

=======================================================================================================================================

No you actually did not give me a link to anything other than a snapshot in time article from ESPN and a message board link with losts of personal speculation. That is not real data. For God's sake according to the poster Hartford CT is a better BB market than NY, Philly and DC. I know this area really well and that's just crazy. UCONN might own Hartford for viewers but there's no way it should ever be viewed as a more desireable market than NYC for college BB. How can I compare the # of viwers watching March Madness in NY if you don't give me the #'s for that metro area? If you can show me actual data that shows me what you are initmating than I'll be happy to move on. With a straihgt face how can you say that Tampa, Albuquerque and Ft. Myers Fl are more desirable markets than NY and Philly for college BBall. You suggested that more people in L'ville watch March Madness than in NY metro. I disagree. Who really gives a crap about market share when there are 15x the number of sets in NY than in L'ville. L'ville can have their 4.5 share and NY get a .8 share and there is still 3x the number of tv's in NYC metro watching the game. When you add in things like buying habits, per capita incomes, etc., and you start to get a real picture as to the desirability of a market. If every viewer in Tampa is 60+ years old and every viewer in San Fran is between 25-50 than the TV exec's will be getting top advertising dollar in the SF market even if market share #'s are slanted the opposite way. I'm not sure you, or the links you shared, provide anything other than someone trying to make the hollow conclusion that their small market team is better supported %-wise than the big market teams. OK you got me there. Here's some data...add in your market share with the actual populations of these areas and tell me which realistic team in these markets the new conference should target?

http://www.citypopulation.de/php/usa-metro.php