The
numbers are in for CBS, and they aren't pretty - at least for the final
game: it's the lowest rated championship since CBS wrested the tournament away
from NBC - and probably not a great way to start the new contract.
It underscores some of the problems of the game, from players leaving early
to poor marketing of college basketball in general (not referring to the tournament, but to the general way the game is perceived).
Nonetheless, the tournament is still highly desirable because the market is
coherent. You didn't see all those beer ads for nothing. There
aren't many events which can deliver that young male demographic for three
straight weekends.
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