You got to know the rules...

[lpbreeze]

I'm glad they cut down on the ads even though there were still too many. I hope CBS got ripped for their earlier games because the amounts of breaks was absurd.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by lpbreeze

I'm glad they cut down on the ads even though there were still too many. I hope CBS got ripped for their earlier games because the amounts of breaks was absurd.

People can "rip" them all they want. CBS contracted to pay the NCAA so much to broadcast the games and they will sell an amount of ad space so as to make a profit. As long as the ratings hit certain numbers, this is how it will be in the future. I doubt the ratings will suffer because people think there's too many ads. Either there will be enough ads to make a profit, or no one will carry the games because they're not going to do it at a loss.

I think over the years, the public has developed a kind of "entitlement mentality" toward certain things. There's no "inherent right" to see sports on television. This is still a capitalistic society, thank goodness.

"The business of America is business".

OK - I'll get off my soapbox for now.

[Adam]

Mark, this ranks with your best posts ever. Well said.

[Nevadaref]

Nah, it was serious, topical, and otherwise a worthy contribution to the forum.
Frankly, I'm disappointed in him.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Nah, it was serious, topical, and otherwise a worthy contribution to the forum.
Frankly, I'm disappointed in him.

I thought he could use some encouragement.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Nah, it was serious, topical, and otherwise a worthy contribution to the forum.

My wife saw this post, then looked at me and said, "OK - who are you and what have you done with my husband?"

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

People can "rip" them all they want. CBS contracted to pay the NCAA so much to broadcast the games and they will sell an amount of ad space so as to make a profit. As long as the ratings hit certain numbers, this is how it will be in the future. I doubt the ratings will suffer because people think there's too many ads. Either there will be enough ads to make a profit, or no one will carry the games because they're not going to do it at a loss.

I think over the years, the public has developed a kind of "entitlement mentality" toward certain things. There's no "inherent right" to see sports on television. This is still a capitalistic society, thank goodness.

"The business of America is business".

OK - I'll get off my soapbox for now.

And I have the ability to do as I usually do.....set the PVR to record the game and start watching it about 1/2 way through....skipping all the commercials!! They have the right to put the ads in the show just as much as I have the right to not watch them.

Ultimately, I know that this viewing habit (when multiplied across millions) will have the effect of lowering the value per minute of commercial time but that is not my concern.

[Bad Zebra]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Ultimately, I know that this viewing habit (when multiplied across millions) will have the effect of lowering the value per minute of commercial time but that is not my concern.

It will also have the effect of removing any profit from the business of broadcasting sports on TV...which will ultimately lead to it's disappearance.

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

It will also have the effect of removing any profit from the business of broadcasting sports on TV...which will ultimately lead to it's disappearance.

If anything, the value per minute of sports programming should be up relative to overall programming, as people are much more likely to watch sports live as opposed to other programming. It's the sitcoms and reality TV that are most impacted by the TIVO craze (in which I'm happy to participate).

Sports programming won't go away - but expect to see more and more advertising injected directly into the broadcast, rather than in traditional commercials. That means superimposed images, more quick spots by the announcers, etc. Pretty soon we'll probably have "This travel brought to you by Coca-Cola!"

[Bad Zebra]

Originally Posted by jdw3018

If anything, the value per minute of sports programming should be up relative to overall programming, as people are much more likely to watch sports live as opposed to other programming.

It's hard to make a case for higher value of ANY programming if advertisers know that commercials are not being seen. That's what "zapping" the commercials is doing...makes no difference if it's live sports or sitcoms or news programming for that matter.

Your point is valid about more eyeballs being drawn to sports...but that doesn't help me if I'm trying to sell Chevy trucks and people are whipping past my message. Product placement will increase as you described, but tests show that they're no where near as effective as 30 second commercials.

Bottom line...watch the commercials...they're the reason the network is able to broadcast the game.

(off my soapbox now...back to your regularly scheduled thread)

[jdw3018]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

It's hard to make a case for higher value of ANY programming if advertisers know that commercials are not being seen. That's what "zapping" the commercials is doing...makes no difference if it's live sports or sitcoms or news programming for that matter.

Your point is valid about more eyeballs being drawn to sports...but that doesn't help me if I'm trying to sell Chevy trucks and people are whipping past my message. Product placement will increase as you described, but tests show that they're no where near as effective as 30 second commercials.

Bottom line...watch the commercials...they're the reason the network is able to broadcast the game.

(off my soapbox now...back to your regularly scheduled thread)

I don't know where we got so off-topic , but while I agree with your points overall, TV isn't going away...and if the "zapping" of commercials happens at a higher rate in sitcoms than in sports (which it does), then the value (to advertisers) of sports is going to be greater relative to the value of sitcoms.

That doesn't mean the overall value of television advertising isn't going to decrease - it probably is - but we shouldn't worry about zapping the commercials. It's a fact of life now and they aren't going to stop showing sports...in fact, I'll argue there will be a higher frequency of live television because it's less likely to be zapped.

This is fun...

[Scrapper1]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

Bottom line...watch the commercials...they're the reason the network is able to broadcast the game.

Maybe not watching the commercials will simply lower the amount the network is willing to pay for the games. I doubt the NCAA tournament (or the NFL, or MLB, or even the NHL) will disappear from TV, even if they get paid less for the rights.

I heard that Monday Night Football was a continuous money-loser for ABC in terms of what they could sell the ad time for. But it was incredibly valuable in promoting the rest of the network's programming and building an audience for other ABC shows, and that's what made it worth the rights fees. Is that anywhere close to being true?

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by jdw3018

Pretty soon we'll probably have "This travel brought to you by Coca-Cola!"

Or "This 'over-the-back' brought to you by Viagra."

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Because it's so much fun embarrassing a gym full of parents. DUH!

I was afraid you would say that. Oh well.. :shrug:

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

Or "This 'over-the-back' brought to you by Viagra."

This 3 second call brought to you by viagra

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

It will also have the effect of removing any profit from the business of broadcasting sports on TV...which will ultimately lead to it's disappearance.

It may cause the broadcasting to rebalance the ad/program ratio so that it is not as annoying to watch. (The ads per hour ratio has gone up in the last couple of decades). Once it gets to a tolerable level, the motivation to skip them all decreases. Once there are fewer, those will be more valuable.

INteresting fact on this:

(from http://www2.sims.berkeley.edu/resear...broadcast.html)

For many years, most large TV stations and the major networks subscribed to the Code of Good Practices of the National Association of Broadcasting, which established limits on the number of commercial minutes that could be telecast each hour. The limits were voluntary but widely followed: 9 1/2 minutes of commercials during primetime; higher amounts during other times of night and day. In 1992, however, the guidelines were ruled a violation of Federal antitrust law. Throughout the industry, most pledged to continue the limits - but gradually that eroded, as networks added more ad time. Prime time today has an average of 15 minutes of ads per hour. The FCC regulates advertising only during children's programming: 10.5 minutes/hour on weekends, 12 minutes/hour on weekdays.