Looks like we're pretty much going back to the old format for Sunday's Selection Show. No more studio audience or alphabetical order reveals. Thank God.
Turner has it again next year, right? I'm ready for them to try some shenanigans next year in that case.
CBS knows better. They present sports in a much more traditional manner without all of the hullabaloo, and I appreciate them for that.
Here are the commentators for each region of this year's tournament.
CBS is using their current graphics and the 2011 March Madness theme for their coverage of the Big Ten semifinals today, like they have done for the past couple of years on Selection Weekend.
Also, all of the smaller conference championships on CBS Sports Network since 3/11/19 got the NCAA Tournament music. The MVC tournament got the standard CBS music; however, since their tournament was last week instead of this week. Odd distinction there, especially since last year, the MVC tournament got treated by the NCAA Tournament music because the Big Ten Tournament was being held on the same weekend, a week earlier than normal. Since CBS was using the NCAA Tournament music for the Big Ten Tournament, they just decided to use it for the MVC Tournament since it was taking place at the same time.
I noticed that Let's Make a Deal is not being carried here in Chicago today and tomorrow due to March Madness. We have paid programming on WBBM instead. Is everyone else carrying paid programming, or are some markets airing their afternoon syndicated programming during that 1-hour block? Is pulling Let's Made a Deal something CBS does nationally in order to give their affiliates the option to move up their syndicated programming, or are repeats of the show still available today and tomorrow to the affiliates that want it?
WDJT used the LMAD pre-emption to fit in Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! this morning rather than deal with a late night airing/bump to WMLW, so definitely a 'fit in prime programming' opportunity.
WCTV is airing their 3pm Dr. Oz at 10am.
KYW is running paid programming 10-11am. Surprised they are not running Dr. Phil or the IE/ET combo at that hour.
From looking at some other O&Os like WCBS and KDKA, it looks like they're all airing Paid Programming during that hour. Must be a requirement. Pretty sad to see Paid Programming on a network station at 9 or 10 am on a weekday morning.
KTVT ran paid programming in place of LMAD at 9am, as well. They're moving Wheel to KTXA at 6:30 after J! at 6 (the latter they already have).
WJZ appears to have carried Maury as usual at 9, Dr. Phil at 10 and the TPIR.
Tomorrow at 10 they are carrying E/I with Hope in the Wild and Pet Vet Dream Team.
WUSA aired Dr. Phil at 10 this morning and WTVR aired Ellen. WNCN ran a special 10am newscast since the noon show was pre-empted.
Do we have any idea why they're using completely different music at the Columbus, OH game site on CBS right now?
Edit: It sounds like it's a bunch of alternate cuts of the main CBS NCAA theme being used in lieu of the March Madness theme. They just used the main cut of the CBS theme going into the latest break.
The only usage of the March Madness music in this telecast has been the sponsor bumpers, probably because the music is baked into the pre-recorded VO track.
Edit 2: I think they figured out their issues after halftime. They're using the correct music now.
I hope in future years they'll do a better job spacing games out in primetime during Round 1. I felt like three of the four games started and ended at roughly the same time both nights. I also wish they would bunch the Round 2 games together like they do on Thursday/Friday, so that I could have a life for a few hours without missing games.
That being said: the games today have been REALLY good.
March Madness ratings are in, and it looks like CBS/Turner are big winners this week.
The Texas Tech-Michigan game on CBS ran into some audio difficulties thanks to a power outage in Anaheim, so the New York studio crew is calling the game (for now).
UPDATE: The announcing crew is back.
If anyone is interested - here is a quick cap from TSN's coverage of March Madness (via the ESPN world feed).
I was on Ottawa a few weeks ago, and the bar I was at had the CBS feed of March Madness — so I guess this isn't Sim-Subbed in Canada?
I'm constantly confused by the broadcast rules.
It's supposed to only be conventional over-the-air television stations in Canada that are supposed to be subbed overtop American stations. For years, Bell ExpressVu would sub TSN overtop NBC during Sunday Night Football. I think they were told to stop doing that by the CRTC awhile back, however during the Blue Jays playoff run, Rogers subbed Sportsnet overtop the Fox station from Buffalo in the Ontario market.
My personal theory as to why TSN and Sportsnet air programs they can't get a simsub over is that they can market it towards viewers that may or may not know about the basic American stations being available on their cable package - or are confused as to which channel it's on.
Plus with more and more viewers cutting the cord - and both TSN and Sportsnet selling their services OTT - it's smart to bulk up on rights.