C Tourney VS Masters TV Coverage

Watching the Masters reminds me again this year what low intensity TV advertising adds to the event enjoyment. The NCAA coverage has gotten so loaded with ads, even coming in at times when the game is being run, that I really am considering only watching the key games and then with the mute button in my hand. I think it is kind of the goose that laid the golden egg being killed by commercialism. Too bad the NCAA couldn't put aside the greed factor and try to preserve the wonder that the NCAA tourney could be. How do others feel and is there nothing the fans can do?

Well the masters is an odd deal. I mean up until a few years ago they wouldn't allow them to show the first 7 holes on television. I'm pretty sure they probably have some kind of deal that only allows ads every once a while. I remember reading this somewhere, can't find a link right off hand. A little too late to try to kill commercialism now...

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Originally Posted by Saratoga2

Watching the Masters reminds me again this year what low intensity TV advertising adds to the event enjoyment. The NCAA coverage has gotten so loaded with ads, even coming in at times when the game is being run, that I really am considering only watching the key games and then with the mute button in my hand. I think it is kind of the goose that laid the golden egg being killed by commercialism. Too bad the NCAA couldn't put aside the greed factor and try to preserve the wonder that the NCAA tourney could be. How do others feel and is there nothing the fans can do?

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That only works because Augusta national demands it.

Augusta mandates that coverage has only about 6(?) minutes of commercials an hour, along with no spoken ads during play. What you have is a situation where ANC does not need the money...thats why they charge 1$ for sandwhiches and $1.50 for beers. They don't need the tv money, so tv stations have to bow down to ANC's every whim to cover it.

The NCAA is opposite...they are heavily dependent on the $$$ from the tv broadcasts...so they allow the networks to control it. The networks will offer more money if they can squeeze in more ad time...so it works out for the NCAA and the networks.

ANC cares much more about the image...so they probably take less in broadcast rights, and mandate the commercial time.

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Originally Posted by uh_no

That only works because Augusta national demands it.

Augusta mandates that coverage has only about 6(?) minutes of commercials an hour, along with no spoken ads during play. What you have is a situation where ANC does not need the money...thats why they charge 1$ for sandwhiches and $1.50 for beers. They don't need the tv money, so tv stations have to bow down to ANC's every whim to cover it.

The NCAA is opposite...they are heavily dependent on the $$$ from the tv broadcasts...so they allow the networks to control it. The networks will offer more money if they can squeeze in more ad time...so it works out for the NCAA and the networks.

ANC cares much more about the image...so they probably take less in broadcast rights, and mandate the commercial time.

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Here's the Wikipedia article on Masters advertising, or limits thereon:

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The club mandates minimal commercial interruption, currently limited to four minutes per hour (as opposed to the usual 12 or more); this is subsidized by selling exclusive sponsorship packages to three companies.

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It is certainly refreshing not to endure so many commercials. Or, compared with the NCAA tournament, not have to have a 30-second timeout turn into a break of 3 minutes and 30 seconds (I am serious!). There is a John Feinstein column directly to this point on the WaPo web site.

sagegrouse

I like the World Cup model of having a small banner in a corner of the screen but allowing uninterrupted viewing. Obviously the nature of soccer is what drives this, but wouldn't it be great if college basketball was the same way? During timeouts you could watch both benches on a split screen and see the expressions and body language of the coaches and players. And like sage said, a 30 second timeout would actually last 30 seconds.

As a casual observer, it seemed to me that some of the players sported shirts with more sponsorships on them that usual. Typically there'd be one tasteful logo on the left side of the chest (where the alligator might have been in the distant past). I thought I spotted some players with multiple logos - both sides of the chest, the collar, and one or both sleeves. Add to that the hat or visor, and it seemed to me they were starting (admittedly, but decidedly just starting) to go down the race car driver route with their attire. I was actually surprised Augusta National allowed that. I thought they might be very stringent about players' clothing and logos. Even Wimbledon requires mostly white, and I think A.N. sees themselves at least in that level of control of decorum.

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but what is it with Jim Nantz and his "victory" line at the end of each event? It's so prepared and canned, it's so phony, laughable and contrived. For instance, after Kentucky won the championship this year, he said something like, "The NCAA championship trophy is finally coming back to its old Kentucky home." At the conclusion of yesterday's Masters it was something like, "There's another Watson who is champion of the Masters, and his name is Bubba." Has he always done this? I feel like he's trying to reproduce Al Michaels' "Do you believe in miracles!" for every sporting event and it just ain't working. Can't he just speak from his heart? He's got such a great voice and delivery, but this phony, contrived stuff really bothers me.

Now back to our sponsor and the original point of this thread...

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Originally Posted by Rich

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but what is it with Jim Nantz and his "victory" line at the end of each event? It's so prepared and canned, it's so phony, laughable and contrived. For instance, after Kentucky won the championship this year, he said something like, "The NCAA championship trophy is finally coming back to its old Kentucky home." At the conclusion of yesterday's Masters it was something like, "There's another Watson who is champion of the Masters, and his name is Bubba." Has he always done this? I feel like he's trying to reproduce Al Michaels' "Do you believe in miracles!" for every sporting event and it just ain't working. Can't he just speak from his heart? He's got such a great voice and delivery, but this phony, contrived stuff really bothers me.

Now back to our sponsor and the original point of this thread...

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He has always done this. And it is always bad. And I want his job just for March and April.

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Originally Posted by cspan37421

As a casual observer, it seemed to me that some of the players sported shirts with more sponsorships on them that usual. Typically there'd be one tasteful logo on the left side of the chest (where the alligator might have been in the distant past). I thought I spotted some players with multiple logos - both sides of the chest, the collar, and one or both sleeves. Add to that the hat or visor, and it seemed to me they were starting (admittedly, but decidedly just starting) to go down the race car driver route with their attire. I was actually surprised Augusta National allowed that. I thought they might be very stringent about players' clothing and logos. Even Wimbledon requires mostly white, and I think A.N. sees themselves at least in that level of control of decorum.

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Many of the players, those who are not the marquis names, actually get paid by the sponsors for every second they are on TV. Neal Lancaster, 49, gets paid like this. He hopes to make it big on the Senior (Champions) Tour next year. He's played in a couple of events this season, returning from two years off due to shoulder and neck surgeries.

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Originally Posted by sagegrouse

Here's the Wikipedia article on Masters advertising, or limits thereon:



It is certainly refreshing not to endure so many commercials. Or, compared with the NCAA tournament, not have to have a 30-second timeout turn into a break of 3 minutes and 30 seconds (I am serious!). There is a John Feinstein column directly to this point on the WaPo web site.

sagegrouse

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Being older, I remember when TV advertising was pretty limited. The quarter and half hour carried most ads. Today, they are putting a string of ads together and they play the banners over again just as the game is about to begin. They probably do that since they realize that many people are muting all of their ads. In my opinion, it has gotten completely ridiculous and I react by turning off the games, except when Duke plays. Then I endure what I feel is a punishing barrage of ads. The NCAA could take less money and have a better product. Would that ever occur to them? The popularity of the NCAAs was reported as falling off a little, small wonder!

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Originally Posted by Rich

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but what is it with Jim Nantz and his "victory" line at the end of each event? It's so prepared and canned, it's so phony, laughable and contrived. For instance, after Kentucky won the championship this year, he said something like, "The NCAA championship trophy is finally coming back to its old Kentucky home." At the conclusion of yesterday's Masters it was something like, "There's another Watson who is champion of the Masters, and his name is Bubba." Has he always done this? I feel like he's trying to reproduce Al Michaels' "Do you believe in miracles!" for every sporting event and it just ain't working. Can't he just speak from his heart? He's got such a great voice and delivery, but this phony, contrived stuff really bothers me.

Now back to our sponsor and the original point of this thread...

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Nantz has been doing it for quite awhile. It does provide for some entertainment during Final Four/Masters week. My buddy and I love to come up with possible Nantz quotes. We know it's always going to sound lame and ridiculous. This year Nantz's delivery was even worse than usual for both events.

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Originally Posted by Dr. Tina

Nantz has been doing it for quite awhile. It does provide for some entertainment during Final Four/Masters week. My buddy and I love to come up with possible Nantz quotes. We know it's always going to sound lame and ridiculous. This year Nantz's delivery was even worse than usual for both events.

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1992 was a good one, "The game is over. The Duke of destiny has won it." or 2001 "And Coach K is the proud father of 3 in more ways than one."

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Originally Posted by OZZIE4DUKE

Many of the players, those who are not the marquis names, actually get paid by the sponsors for every second they are on TV. Neal Lancaster, 49, gets paid like this. He hopes to make it big on the Senior (Champions) Tour next year. He's played in a couple of events this season, returning from two years off due to shoulder and neck surgeries.

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I actually saw Neal today when I went to the club for lunch. He's heading to Texas on Friday and will be playing in the PGA tournament (Valero Texas Open in San Antonio, TX) the following week! Good luck Neal! :cool:

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Originally Posted by Saratoga2

Being older, I remember when TV advertising was pretty limited. The quarter and half hour carried most ads. Today, they are putting a string of ads together and they play the banners over again just as the game is about to begin. They probably do that since they realize that many people are muting all of their ads. In my opinion, it has gotten completely ridiculous and I react by turning off the games, except when Duke plays. Then I endure what I feel is a punishing barrage of ads. The NCAA could take less money and have a better product. Would that ever occur to them? The popularity of the NCAAs was reported as falling off a little, small wonder!

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I have often thought that advertisers would get more bang for their buck if there weren't so many of them. Certainly people mute the commercials. (I DVR most things, and just forward through commercials anyway.) It's all the more annoying when you're watching an ongoing event like the NCAA tournament or baseball playoffs and they show the same ads a million times. And instead of making their "product" (the commercials) more scarce, the powers that be dilute the product by adding even more commercials for the playoffs and NCAA tournament. I guess somebody has researched this at MLB and NCAA and they disagree with me, but there must be some tipping point at which you have maximized your revenue per hour.

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Originally Posted by rasputin

I have often thought that advertisers would get more bang for their buck if there weren't so many of them. Certainly people mute the commercials. (I DVR most things, and just forward through commercials anyway.) It's all the more annoying when you're watching an ongoing event like the NCAA tournament or baseball playoffs and they show the same ads a million times. And instead of making their "product" (the commercials) more scarce, the powers that be dilute the product by adding even more commercials for the playoffs and NCAA tournament. I guess somebody has researched this at MLB and NCAA and they disagree with me, but there must be some tipping point at which you have maximized your revenue per hour.

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There is enormous prestige to the Masters telecasts. I can't remember if CBS pays below market or not, given the restrictions. But wouldn't it be fun if sometime GoDaddy.com was a sponsor?

sage

Another feature of the Masters TV broadcast is the lack of graphics on the screen. The Augusta National folks keep it that way, I am sure. It is really nice to have extended shots of the course and the activity without the graphics. Even the local stations seem to keep their garbage off the screen.

The amount of advertising is driving me crazy. Recording a game isn't enough anymore! I fast forward through the commercials only to get tripped up every time the network inserts a shot of the court, followed by more commercials..

Another grumpy old guy pet peeve is the number of teenagers festooned with thousands of dollars worth of tatoos. Do teenagers really have that kind of money to drop on ink?