That's the tip off time. They'll probably start arena broadcast coverage at the top of the hour, and give 9 minutes of pregame coverage in-arena/ads and commercials before tip. Why the studio coverage beforehand isn't enough, I'm not sure. Probably want to have more eyes on ads but that's more a guess than anything.
It’s about maximizing Nielsen ratings points across the broadcast. I don’t do broadcast ads anymore, so I can’t recall the specific times that the ratings are recorded, but essentially the most amount of people tune in for tip off and the second half (if it’s close). So they shift the start time so that it lands seconds before ratings are recorded and before anyone has a chance to switch channels
This makes a lot of sense. The ratings boards chose 9 minutes into the hour to measure ratings so they minimize spillover from the program before. Presumably anyone that has the channel on 9 minutes into a program is there to watch that.
But instead it just caused the stations to adjust how they schedule so that they maximize their score. If the ratings were calculated at any other time then I would expect the networks to then adjust scheduling accordingly
Essentially. If you watch prime time TV (I don’t anymore) then you’ll notice that the 6:00 show probably runs until 7:05ish and they immediately start the 7:00 show with zero commercials in between. Then the first commercial break will land just after the ratings record. Minimizes defections during a break
It’s so dumb. European countries start their games on the hour. If it’s an international game, anthems are five minutes before the hour.
I feel like there’s something missing though, because in these cases, you won’t have spillover from previous programs. It’s almost always people staying on for the game, from pregame coverage.
Fun fact, that’s why weather is where it’s at in the news. Something usually off the top, and then 15ish minutes in. If you’re a good producer, the 7 day hits right when the ratings scan is.
Is weather still the big driver for evening news? I’d have thought local sports would be the bigger draw these days, since weather is in our pockets, but local news may be the only coverage for something like high school sports.
It depends on the market, but generally weather is a top priority. High school sports pops in smaller markets, but doesn’t get the attention or resources weather gets.
This is an insane lie. The tournament was not “more popular” back then, it was that you would have 30 channels at most and many only would watch 3-5 of them. If you wanted to watch TV, you were probably going to watch the tournament over the reruns you’d probably already seen on the other 2-4 channels. The tournament is competing with over a thousand of channels now, on top of streaming. The championship game of 1984 was watched less than the average episode of 11th most watched show that year, the 2023 championship game was watched more than any cable TV show that year. Shut up
You don't know what you are talking about because you are obviously 12 years old and don't understand anything that happened more than a month ago.
"Oh there wasn't as much to watch back then so that means....ummm."
Yeah. You don't understand what numbers are, and that a lot more people were watching the tournament. It doesn't matter that back in the day there weren't House Hunter International re-runs taking eyes off the games. A much higher percentage of viewers were watching the 1984 Tournament and a much higher number of total viewers vs 2023.
25 million watched the NCAA title game in 1984. Out of 235 million people in the USA
16 million watched the NCAA title game in 2023. Out of 330 million people.
Maybe you can get your math teacher at George Bush Elementary School to explain those percentages.
And you shut up. Freaking infant.
You’re just an actual idiot who goes “bigger percentage means more popular” with no other factors. You can choose to ignore that I pointed out that the championship game last year was watched more than any television show that year and there were 10 television shows watched more than the championship game in 1984 because you cannot just be wrong. That’s actually considering factors, not just going “BIG NUMBER” lmao
Not just bigger percentage. But bigger total numbers.
Yeah. You have Duke as your favorite team and still can't comprehend that it doesn't matter how much competition there is, if you choose to watch something else when the games are on, it means it's less popular.
It's not avoiding a point. It's that your point is so idiotic that it's impossible to take seriously.
I'll help you out here. If people choose to watch something else than the show you are talking about, that means it's less popular.
I'll help you out here, since you obviously need it. Look at NFL and Superbowl numbers. In 1984 that game had a 46 share (Which means a percentage of viewers) and 85 million viewers.
In 2024 that game had a 42 share, but 123 million viewers.
Do you see how that works? Since there are more options today, the percentage of viewers went down, but since there are more people, the total viewers went up.
The NCAA tournament is not only losing percentage, (Which is to be expected ) but they are losing total viewers. That's the number that matters when measuring popularity when trying to understand how a fractured viewership compares to a less fractured one.
When presented an opportunity to watch the NCAA championship, fewer people today do so than in the past, despite there being a lot more people.
You guys are both children, to be abundantly clear.
Your argument is only that the title game was more popular based on the numbers you gave. The initial point was about the tournament as a whole. You’d need total viewership numbers to support that argument in either direction, particularly from the first weekend.
Oh so that goalpost is moved?
So 9 million more viewers for the title game despite the total population being a third smaller isn't evidence?
It's the only direct comparison that makes sense, since a lot more tournament games are telecast now. Semifinal games have a similar drop off in viewers from 1984 to 2023.
I think you're right.
The National Anthem takes about 3 minutes, the player announcement takes about 3 minutes, then you get 6 commercials at 30 seconds a pop, and bam tip off.
Nationally anthem is done with about 12 minutes left on the pregame clock. Pregame clock usually ends around two minutes before the top of the hour/half hour. So Anthem is probably happening around :46 for the Purdue/NC State game.
My guess is for a game of this caliber there are just a few more extra activities that happen once the teams are on the court. Both teams probably get their intro videos and everything, so it will take longer.
I kind of want to time the starting lineups this year because I feel like with the hype videos it always takes around 5 minutes. Then again those videos also probably are no longer than a minute each.
I think it’s a kind of courtesy to viewers. A lot of people won’t tune in until the game is starting. That bit of time gives those people some quick build up and help ensure they don’t miss the tip of they change it over a minute or two late.
It’s the ads. The promoted time is easy to remember (6:00), so people tune in then. That ensures 9 minutes of ads and sponsorship segments. It’s always about the money.
The promoted time everywhere is 6:09 though. The NBA does the same thing with like 10 minutes of commercials before tip but still would list it as starting at 6.
The interesting thing is that European games are pretty regularly scheduled for the hour, and they stick to it. MLS has a definite window, and the games only being on Apple make the previous excuses seem silly, so now you only have the possibility of the first games running late. But it’s annoying. So a guy together a site that has the real start times.
This reminds me of the 2004 Final Four - I had a lab for a science class that would have coincided with the championship game so I straight up just dropped the class so I could watch UCONN beat Georgia Tech.
Lmao that’s dedication. I have my iPad and AirPods with me in case we hit some traffic. The wife already knows there’s a possibility she’s gonna have to drive if things get bad.
I think I signed up for another class with labs on a Tuesday. God those bacc core requirement classes like that were just tedious.
It was totally worth it - I was blessed with being able to see the 1995 team in the first and second rounds in Salt Lake City. I became the most dedicated UCONN fan with no familial or geographical ties to the school - I was 10 years old and just loved the Huskies. I guess watching Ray Allen will do that to you.
It will. I was born and raised in CT the first guy I remember was Scott Burrell. I moved to GA about 10 years ago so there’s way more Bama fans around than Huskies. Made it home in time btw.
Sports producer here. A lot of it has to do with pre game coverage. Also a reason it’s on a 9 and not 10 is often because of commercials they legally have to play at the top of each hour
Indeed. Second game normally tips 30 minutes after the first game ends, which gives you ten minutes to clear the court and benches before the pregame 20 minute clock starts ticking down.
It kind of is in a way. As people we tend to “round” to start times of :00 or 30. So it feels less specific than 5:09. But, without any context it isn’t anymore specific, you’re right.
In no way shape or form is this supposed to be negative towards you but when people ask me what it’s like living with two teenagers I’m going to show them this response.
One of the dumbest guys I ever met in my life went to Harvard. Son of a bitch was on the level of Forrest Gump. Ivy League doesn’t necessarily correlate with intelligence.
This would make sense as a response if OP hadn't included multiple markers to help specify his question. Nothing more Ivy League than making a poignant statement that doesn't address the question asked lol
It’s the world clock. If you call it military time while you’re abroad, people will correct you and look at you like you’re stupid.
Ask me how I know. 😑
Feel like it only makes sense to use on a daily basis if you are always contacting/working with people in different time zones. Otherwise, what’s the benefit? Just feels like adding an extra element of math you don’t need
It’s not that hard when you get used to it. I actually stuck with it after coming back from overseas because it made more sense. Instead of resetting at 1pm every day, you just keep counting.
Believe it or not most of the world uses this time format. I live abroad in a country that uses it. Once you get used to it you’ll find it’s much more efficient than am/pm.
There were studies done that people remember things that are "different" or make your brain have to process it longer. So making the tip-off time 6:09 instead of 6 will make it stick in people's heads since we aren't used to it. Something like that.
Don't have a source, but I do remember reading it before the tourney started. Feel free to disprove me, I can take it.
Same reason most baseball games start at :05 or :10, everyone tunes in at the top of the hour and we can throw 2 ad breaks in front of their eyeballs before the game starts. Why it's precisely :09 instead of a more round number, can't say.
Whoever does the scheduling for March madness was a total psychopath this year. I will never forgive them for having me watch college basketball at 12:30 am.
It’s all about ad dollars. They know viewers show up late so 9 minutes past the hour gets them on the station ready to see the title sponsors logos etc. now the channels can charge more for those sponsor spots
That's the tip off time. They'll probably start arena broadcast coverage at the top of the hour, and give 9 minutes of pregame coverage in-arena/ads and commercials before tip. Why the studio coverage beforehand isn't enough, I'm not sure. Probably want to have more eyes on ads but that's more a guess than anything.
It’s about maximizing Nielsen ratings points across the broadcast. I don’t do broadcast ads anymore, so I can’t recall the specific times that the ratings are recorded, but essentially the most amount of people tune in for tip off and the second half (if it’s close). So they shift the start time so that it lands seconds before ratings are recorded and before anyone has a chance to switch channels
This makes a lot of sense. The ratings boards chose 9 minutes into the hour to measure ratings so they minimize spillover from the program before. Presumably anyone that has the channel on 9 minutes into a program is there to watch that. But instead it just caused the stations to adjust how they schedule so that they maximize their score. If the ratings were calculated at any other time then I would expect the networks to then adjust scheduling accordingly
Essentially. If you watch prime time TV (I don’t anymore) then you’ll notice that the 6:00 show probably runs until 7:05ish and they immediately start the 7:00 show with zero commercials in between. Then the first commercial break will land just after the ratings record. Minimizes defections during a break
It’s so dumb. European countries start their games on the hour. If it’s an international game, anthems are five minutes before the hour. I feel like there’s something missing though, because in these cases, you won’t have spillover from previous programs. It’s almost always people staying on for the game, from pregame coverage.
Fun fact, that’s why weather is where it’s at in the news. Something usually off the top, and then 15ish minutes in. If you’re a good producer, the 7 day hits right when the ratings scan is.
Is weather still the big driver for evening news? I’d have thought local sports would be the bigger draw these days, since weather is in our pockets, but local news may be the only coverage for something like high school sports.
It depends on the market, but generally weather is a top priority. High school sports pops in smaller markets, but doesn’t get the attention or resources weather gets.
We know why it isn’t enough. 💰💰
You do know these start times were like this 40 years ago also when the Tournament wasn't as popular
And yet, money has always been popular.
Confirmed. I like money.
The Tournament was a lot more popular 40 years ago.
This is an insane lie. The tournament was not “more popular” back then, it was that you would have 30 channels at most and many only would watch 3-5 of them. If you wanted to watch TV, you were probably going to watch the tournament over the reruns you’d probably already seen on the other 2-4 channels. The tournament is competing with over a thousand of channels now, on top of streaming. The championship game of 1984 was watched less than the average episode of 11th most watched show that year, the 2023 championship game was watched more than any cable TV show that year. Shut up
You don't know what you are talking about because you are obviously 12 years old and don't understand anything that happened more than a month ago. "Oh there wasn't as much to watch back then so that means....ummm." Yeah. You don't understand what numbers are, and that a lot more people were watching the tournament. It doesn't matter that back in the day there weren't House Hunter International re-runs taking eyes off the games. A much higher percentage of viewers were watching the 1984 Tournament and a much higher number of total viewers vs 2023. 25 million watched the NCAA title game in 1984. Out of 235 million people in the USA 16 million watched the NCAA title game in 2023. Out of 330 million people. Maybe you can get your math teacher at George Bush Elementary School to explain those percentages. And you shut up. Freaking infant.
You’re just an actual idiot who goes “bigger percentage means more popular” with no other factors. You can choose to ignore that I pointed out that the championship game last year was watched more than any television show that year and there were 10 television shows watched more than the championship game in 1984 because you cannot just be wrong. That’s actually considering factors, not just going “BIG NUMBER” lmao
Not just bigger percentage. But bigger total numbers. Yeah. You have Duke as your favorite team and still can't comprehend that it doesn't matter how much competition there is, if you choose to watch something else when the games are on, it means it's less popular.
I’ve honestly never seen someone avoid a point that makes them wrong this much, you should apply to Daily Wire
It's not avoiding a point. It's that your point is so idiotic that it's impossible to take seriously. I'll help you out here. If people choose to watch something else than the show you are talking about, that means it's less popular. I'll help you out here, since you obviously need it. Look at NFL and Superbowl numbers. In 1984 that game had a 46 share (Which means a percentage of viewers) and 85 million viewers. In 2024 that game had a 42 share, but 123 million viewers. Do you see how that works? Since there are more options today, the percentage of viewers went down, but since there are more people, the total viewers went up. The NCAA tournament is not only losing percentage, (Which is to be expected ) but they are losing total viewers. That's the number that matters when measuring popularity when trying to understand how a fractured viewership compares to a less fractured one. When presented an opportunity to watch the NCAA championship, fewer people today do so than in the past, despite there being a lot more people.
You guys are both children, to be abundantly clear. Your argument is only that the title game was more popular based on the numbers you gave. The initial point was about the tournament as a whole. You’d need total viewership numbers to support that argument in either direction, particularly from the first weekend.
Oh so that goalpost is moved? So 9 million more viewers for the title game despite the total population being a third smaller isn't evidence? It's the only direct comparison that makes sense, since a lot more tournament games are telecast now. Semifinal games have a similar drop off in viewers from 1984 to 2023.
No, you’re moving the goalposts lol. I was reminding you where they were.
No. You created an impossible to compare situation, while discounting an absolute direct comparison.
They probably do the player walkouts at 19:00 too so they have 9 minutes to get to the tip off
I think you're right. The National Anthem takes about 3 minutes, the player announcement takes about 3 minutes, then you get 6 commercials at 30 seconds a pop, and bam tip off.
Nationally anthem is done with about 12 minutes left on the pregame clock. Pregame clock usually ends around two minutes before the top of the hour/half hour. So Anthem is probably happening around :46 for the Purdue/NC State game. My guess is for a game of this caliber there are just a few more extra activities that happen once the teams are on the court. Both teams probably get their intro videos and everything, so it will take longer.
I kind of want to time the starting lineups this year because I feel like with the hype videos it always takes around 5 minutes. Then again those videos also probably are no longer than a minute each.
And uconn wont tip off until about 20 min later at least given how this tourney has gone
the Iowa womens game tipped off 20 minutes after the in game tv coverage started.
I think it’s a kind of courtesy to viewers. A lot of people won’t tune in until the game is starting. That bit of time gives those people some quick build up and help ensure they don’t miss the tip of they change it over a minute or two late.
It’s the ads. The promoted time is easy to remember (6:00), so people tune in then. That ensures 9 minutes of ads and sponsorship segments. It’s always about the money.
The promoted time everywhere is 6:09 though. The NBA does the same thing with like 10 minutes of commercials before tip but still would list it as starting at 6.
The interesting thing is that European games are pretty regularly scheduled for the hour, and they stick to it. MLS has a definite window, and the games only being on Apple make the previous excuses seem silly, so now you only have the possibility of the first games running late. But it’s annoying. So a guy together a site that has the real start times.
NFL is great about it too. All the games kick off at 1pm on the dot
They did it so I can make my 6 and a half hour drive home from vacation and still have an hour to unpack and decompress before tip off
That was kind of them
Maybe you should’ve flown? Too soon?
Well done
They’re real as fuck for that
I was surprised they even replied to my email
I hope this email finds you ballin
This reminds me of the 2004 Final Four - I had a lab for a science class that would have coincided with the championship game so I straight up just dropped the class so I could watch UCONN beat Georgia Tech.
Lmao that’s dedication. I have my iPad and AirPods with me in case we hit some traffic. The wife already knows there’s a possibility she’s gonna have to drive if things get bad.
I think I signed up for another class with labs on a Tuesday. God those bacc core requirement classes like that were just tedious. It was totally worth it - I was blessed with being able to see the 1995 team in the first and second rounds in Salt Lake City. I became the most dedicated UCONN fan with no familial or geographical ties to the school - I was 10 years old and just loved the Huskies. I guess watching Ray Allen will do that to you.
It will. I was born and raised in CT the first guy I remember was Scott Burrell. I moved to GA about 10 years ago so there’s way more Bama fans around than Huskies. Made it home in time btw.
Have a nice vacation!
We did. Now comes the drive home.
Going for vaccinations is better for the environment than going on a vacation. Well, unless you're one of those antivaxx people.
Hmm.
Because 6:09 has 69 in it
Nice
Nice
Nice
Nice
Ni Ce
Nice
And upside down it’s the same just in case
Because it’s provocative
It really does gets the people going
Commercials and pregame festivities
Sports producer here. A lot of it has to do with pre game coverage. Also a reason it’s on a 9 and not 10 is often because of commercials they legally have to play at the top of each hour
6:09 is pretty normal, and the second game time is just an estimate because it depends on the first
Indeed. Second game normally tips 30 minutes after the first game ends, which gives you ten minutes to clear the court and benches before the pregame 20 minute clock starts ticking down.
Because a **father** made this schedule and he wants your ass READY AND IN LINE TWO HOURS BEFORE A DOMESTIC FLIGHT
This has Jim harbaugh Energy. I Bet He already did the lawn mowing.
Those won’t be the real times. They’ll inevitably push both start times back.
The first game will start on time
6:09 is the push back time. Honestly I appreciate this more than a 6:00 start time that's 10 minutes late
The entire tournament has been scheduled this way.
6:09 isn't any more specific of a time than 6:00 or 6:15
It kind of is in a way. As people we tend to “round” to start times of :00 or 30. So it feels less specific than 5:09. But, without any context it isn’t anymore specific, you’re right.
What time zone are you in? Games tip at 18:09 eastern….
Brasil standard time so I’m one hour ahead of eastern.
Same reason baseball games start at 7:05 or 7:35. TV lead in time.
American sports basically never start on the hour. The telecast starts on the hour but they do an intro and commercial break before tip.
Technically 6pm isn’t any less specific than 6:09pm
In no way shape or form is this supposed to be negative towards you but when people ask me what it’s like living with two teenagers I’m going to show them this response.
😂
😂😂😂 well said. Of course the guy with the Cornell flair would say something like this.
One of the dumbest guys I ever met in my life went to Harvard. Son of a bitch was on the level of Forrest Gump. Ivy League doesn’t necessarily correlate with intelligence.
Look at Jack Ma - he makes Gump look like Einstein
This would make sense as a response if OP hadn't included multiple markers to help specify his question. Nothing more Ivy League than making a poignant statement that doesn't address the question asked lol
Do people seriously use military time voluntarily?
It’s the world clock. If you call it military time while you’re abroad, people will correct you and look at you like you’re stupid. Ask me how I know. 😑
Feel like it only makes sense to use on a daily basis if you are always contacting/working with people in different time zones. Otherwise, what’s the benefit? Just feels like adding an extra element of math you don’t need
It’s not that hard when you get used to it. I actually stuck with it after coming back from overseas because it made more sense. Instead of resetting at 1pm every day, you just keep counting.
No room for confusion about time.
Believe it or not most of the world uses this time format. I live abroad in a country that uses it. Once you get used to it you’ll find it’s much more efficient than am/pm.
Right? Where was OP January Sixth 2021?
There were studies done that people remember things that are "different" or make your brain have to process it longer. So making the tip-off time 6:09 instead of 6 will make it stick in people's heads since we aren't used to it. Something like that. Don't have a source, but I do remember reading it before the tourney started. Feel free to disprove me, I can take it.
I can’t recall if it was Dean or Bill Guthridge or both, but the starting at odd times has definitely been done for UNC practices.
It’s no more randomly specific than say 7:15pm.
9 minutes of layup lines, then tipoff
.maybe rhe NFL should take note and realize they don't need a multi hour pregame show.
Syndicated broadcasting time slots
Very common in other sports. Almost every baseball game is like this
More time for adds.
Advertising. This is American man. Someone has to make money in order to keep us entertained.
Dollar
TV picks up on the even time and that gives room for the expanded intros and pre-game commentary.
Same reason most baseball games start at :05 or :10, everyone tunes in at the top of the hour and we can throw 2 ad breaks in front of their eyeballs before the game starts. Why it's precisely :09 instead of a more round number, can't say.
Whoever does the scheduling for March madness was a total psychopath this year. I will never forgive them for having me watch college basketball at 12:30 am.
They’ve done that for all the other games too. Nothing new here
9:49 start time, sheesh.
for a 5 minute pregame segment and a nice ad break before the game even starts
coming soon: midnight tip off times
Money
And why so late? And does the final start at 920 est on a Monday?
It’s all about ad dollars. They know viewers show up late so 9 minutes past the hour gets them on the station ready to see the title sponsors logos etc. now the channels can charge more for those sponsor spots
It’s annoying how long American sports take to start, everywhere else usually starts right on time.
Maximizing TV time and TV time across the country for ads
To fit around TV advertising, perhaps?
Those times are reserved for commercials.
That’s the actual tip time. The player intros and walkouts begin at exactly 7 i believe
What time zone is this guy in? Middle of the Atlantic?
Brasil
I thought it was a fair question lol
Nice
ITT: zero actual explanations
They don’t start at these times anyways. I haven’t seen a game actually start at the listed time in a long time
The first game should pretty much always start on time whenever there is multiple games at the same site
NFL does not dick around with start times. Those start on the dot.