New Fantasized NCAA Tournament Layout

I promised I would re-do the NCAA Tournament on TV with the impending Fox-Time Warner deal, so here we go. First thing though, TruTV and FS1 are both in the picture still, as well as FS2 (get some carriage, providers). This will really help it get into homes. 

First Four:

Monday:

1:00-FS2

3:15-FS2

7:00-FS1

9:30-FS1

Round of 64:

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday:

3:00-TruTV

3:45-FS1

5:20-TBS

6:30-CBS

6:45-TNT

7:15-FS2

8:00-FS1 (TBS on Wed. due to UFC)

8:45-CBS

Round of 32:

Saturday:

12:30-CBS

2:45-CBS

5:15-TNT

5:30-TBS

6:30-FS1 (FOX gets UFC Card)

7:45-CBS

9:00-FS1

10:30-CBS

Sunday:

12:00-CBS

2:00-FS1

2:30-CBS

4:00-TNT

5:00-CBS

6:45-TNT

7:30-TBS

10:00-TBS

Sweet Sixteen:

Wednesday:

7:00-CBS

9:45-CBS

Thursday:

6:00-FS1

7:00-TNT

8:30-FS1

10:00-TBS

Friday:

7:15-CBS

10:00-CBS

Elite Eight:

Saturday:

4:30-CBS

7:00-CBS

Sunday:

5:15-CBS

9:00-CBS

Final Four:

Thursday:

6:30-Teamcast*

9:00-Teamcast*

Championship:

Saturday:

9:00-Teamcast**

*Normal Broadcast: TBS, Teamcast 1: TNT and FS2, Teamcast 2: TruTV and FS1

**Normal Broadcast: CBS, Teamcast 1: TBS, Teamcast 2, TNT

What do you think? Good, bad, leave comments below. 

NBA Playoffs Revamped Schedule:

Here are the playoffs, as promised. 

1st Round:

Sunday:

1:00-ABC

3:30-ABC

6:00-ESPN

8:30-ESPN

Monday:

7:30-FS1

9:00-NBATV

10:00-FS1

Tuesday:

7:00-NBATV

7:30-FS1

10:30-NBATV

Wednesday:

7:30-ESPN

8:00-ESPN2

10:00-ESPN

Thursday:

7:00-FS1

8:30-NBATV

9:30-FS1

Friday:

6:30-ESPN2

8:00-ESPN

10:30-ESPN

Saturday:

12:30-ESPN

3:00-FOX

5:30-ABC

8:00-ABC

10:30-ESPN

2nd Round:

Sunday:

2:00-ABC

4:30-ABC

Monday:

7:30-FS1

10:00-FS1

Tuesday:

8:00-FS1

10:30-FS1

Wednesday:

8:00-ESPN

10:30-ESPN

Thursday:

7:00-FS1

9:30-FS1

Friday:

7:00-ESPN

9:30-ESPN

Saturday:

12:30-FS1

8:00-ESPN

3rd Round:

1 CF on ESPN

1 CF on FS1

Finals:

Games 1, 3, 5, and 6-FOX

Games 2, 4 and 7-ABC

FS1 Revamped Schedule: June

June is the final month with NASCAR for FOX, and the NBA is now gone. 

Here is June:

Sunday:

11:00-NASCAR Raceday:

Before every race, there is always Raceday. That's it. 

12:00-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series or Monster Jam:

NASCAR is the draw of the day, but when it's on FOX, there is nothing else to really show. So, the next best option is Monster Jam. 

4:00, 5:00 and 6:00-Monster Jam:

FS1 is left with Monster Jam after the races end because they got no other programming. 

7:00-Major League Soccer:

The new contract has 7:00 Sunday MLS games, so this is where it is. 

9:00 and 10:00-The Ultimate Fighter: TUF is a very highly watched show for FS1 standards, so why not air last weeks episode at 9:00, and the new one at 10. 

Monday:

7:00-Street League Skateboarding:

With MLS taking Sunday Night, SLS can move to Monday Night. 

9:00-NASCAR Race Hub:

No other shows can fit here, and FS1 has no other live sports. So, Race Hub it is. 

10:00-MLB Whiparound:

Showing every highlight, the whip is good for ratings. 

Tuesday:

7:00-UFC Ultimate Insider:

8:00-MLB 162:

8:30-Big Sticks:

9:00-UFC Main Event:

With one MLB game moving from FS1 to FOX in mid-May, FS1 has only ancillary programming to show. 

10:00-MLB Whiparound:

Finally, a live show leading in to FOX Sports Live. 

Wednesday:

7:00 and 9:00-UFC Fight Night Prelims and Main Card: Why not put all Fight Nights on Wednesday, one every week. Also, it would be cool. 

Thursday:

7:00-UFC Ultimate Insider:

8:00-MLB 162:

8:30-Big Sticks:

9:00-NASCAR Race Hub

With the NBA done, FS1 has only ancillary programming to show. 

10:00-MLB Whiparound:

Finally, like Tuesday, a live show leading in to FOX Sports Live. 

Friday:

Afternoon-NASCAR Practice and Qualifying:

Like I said before, this kind of stuff can turn up 3/4 million people, so it's quality programming. 

7:30-NCWTS Race:

Draws a fairly sized turnout, like NSCS Qualifying and Practice. 

Saturday:

12:00-MLB: FS1's MLB games are producing numbers like 500,000, so it's good for a lead-in to Nationwide. 

3:00-NASCAR Nationwide Series:

These races are very strong draws, and sometimes beat out the UFC. 

6:00 and 8:00-UFC Numbered Event Prefight Show and Prelims:

Like with Wednesday, except the Main Card is on PPV, can we have a fight every week? Hopefully, because that would be cool. 

July is next, NASCAR is gone and MLB comes back for two games a week. 

Leave comments for new series. 

FS1 Revamped Schedule: May

Sunday:

11:00-NASCAR Raceday:

Before every race, there is always Raceday. That's it. 

12:00-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series or NBA:

If the NASCAR race is on FOX, FS1 gets playoffs. If  the NASCAR race is on FS1, FOX gets playoffs. 

4:00, 5:00 and 6:00-Monster Jam:

FS1 is left with Monster Jam after the races end because they got no other programming. 

7:00-Major League Soccer:

The new contract has 7:00 Sunday MLS games, so this is where it is. 

9:00 and 10:00-The Ultimate Fighter: TUF is a very highly watched show for FS1 standards, so why not air last weeks episode at 9:00, and the new one at 10. 

Monday:

8:00 and 10:30-NBA:

Every show from April is relegated to FS2 to make room for the playoffs. 

Tuesday:

7:30-NBA:

Tuesday's a good night because they'll have an NBA Playoff game followed by MLB in prime time on the west coast. 

10:00-MLB:

A Tuesday game of the week frees up Saturdays a lot. Plus, it's a good draw. 

Wednesday:

7:00 and 9:00-UFC Fight Night Prelims and Main Card: Why not put all Fight Nights on Wednesday, one every week. Also, it would be cool. 

Thursday:

7:00 and 9:30 or 7:30 and 10:00-NBA:

FOX receives playoff games starting in mid-April and they have the room. 

Friday:

Afternoon-NASCAR Practice and Qualifying:

Like I said before, this kind of stuff can turn up 3/4 million people, so it's quality programming. 

7:30-NCWTS Race:

Draws a fairly sized turnout, like NSCS Qualifying and Practice. 

10:00-NBA:

With a NASCAR lead-in, the playoffs should be OK. 

Saturday:

7:30-Bundesliga:

Look what NBC did with Premier League, now I'm not saying FOX has to have a match weekly, but they need some games on FS1 with the key game of the final week on broadcast. 

10:00-NASCAR Practice:

It's a pretty big draw, so it's good for FS1. 

12:30-NBA:

Playoffs are the whole month, so FS1 gets games all month

3:00-NASCAR Nationwide Series:

It's a very big, 2,000,000 viewer draw. 

6:00 and 8:00-UFC Numbered Event Prefight Show and Prelims:

Like with Wednesday, except the Main Card is on PPV, we would have a fight every week? That would be cool. 

Leave comments below. Thanks for reading, again. 

FS1 Revamped Schedule: April

Now for April, with the addition of MLB, it is crazy on Saturdays. But I have plan. 

Here is April:

Sunday:

11:00-NASCAR Raceday:

Before every race, there is always Raceday. That's it. 

12:00-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series or Monster Jam:

NASCAR is the draw of the day, but when it's on FOX, there is nothing else to really show. So, the next best option is Monster Jam. 

4:00, 5:00 and 6:00-Monster Jam:

FS1 is left with Monster Jam after the races end because they got no other programming. 

7:00-Major League Soccer:

The new contract has 7:00 Sunday MLS games, so this is where it is. 

9:00 and 10:00-The Ultimate Fighter: TUF is a very highly watched show for FS1 standards, so why not air last weeks episode at 9:00, and the new one at 10. 

Monday:

7:00-Street League Skateboarding:

With MLS taking Sunday Night, SLS can move to Monday Night. 

9:00-NASCAR Race Hub:

No other shows can fit here, and FS1 has no other live sports. So, Race Hub it is. 

9:30-FOX Soccer Daily:

Soccer's best review show returns after college basketball ends and stays until Bundesliga, La Liga, EPL, Ligue 1 and Serie A end in the late spring. 

10:00-MLB Whiparound:

Showing every highlight, the whip is good for ratings. 

Tuesday:

7:00 or 8:00-MLB:

A Tuesday game of the week frees up Saturdays a lot. Plus, it's a good draw. 

Wednesday:

2:30-UEFA Champions League:

The world's biggest soccer tournament is a better draw than Mike Francesa. 

7:00 and 9:00-UFC Fight Night Prelims and Main Card: Why not put all Fight Nights on Wednesday, one every week. I wonder what fans would think. Also, they have nothing else to go up against the four-letter network. 

Thursday:

7:00 and 9:30 or 7:30 and 10:00-NBA:

FOX receives Thursday games when buying out Turner Sports which are great ratings draws. 

Friday:

Afternoon-NASCAR Practice and Qualifying:

Like I said before, this kind of stuff can turn up 3/4 million people, so it's quality programming. 

7:30-NCWTS Race:

Draws a fairly sized turnout, like NSCS Qualifying and Practice. 

Saturday:

7:30-Bundesliga:

Look what NBC did with Premier League, now I'm not saying FOX has to have a match weekly, but they need some games on FS1 with the key game of the final week on broadcast. 

10:00-NASCAR Practice:

It's a pretty big draw, so it's good for FS1. 

12:00-MLB:

Baseball should be a nice fit at noon. 

3:00-NASCAR Nationwide Series:

It's a very big, 2,000,000 viewer draw. 

6:00 and 8:00-UFC Numbered Event Prefight Show and Prelims:

Like with Wednesday, except the Main Card is on PPV, we would have a fight every week? That would be cool. 

MLB, NBA and NCAA Playoff Schedules to come. Thanks for reading. 

FS1 Revamped Schedule: March

This is the 3rd part of my series on FS1's re-done schedule. Conference Tournament Week is a different schedule, and FS1 will pick up some NCAA Tournament Coverage, which I'll talk about after I finish this series. 

Here is March:

Sunday:

11:00-NASCAR Raceday:

Before every race, there is always Raceday. That's it. 

12:00-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series or Monster Jam:

NASCAR is the draw of the day, but when it's on FOX, there is nothing else to really show. So, the next best option is Monster Jam. 

4:00, 5:00 and 6:00-Monster Jam:

FS1 is left with Monster Jam after the races end because they got no other programming. 

7:00-Major League Soccer:

The new contract has 7:00 Sunday MLS games, so this is where it is. 

9:00 and 10:00-The Ultimate Fighter: TUF is a very highly watched show for FS1 standards, so why not air last weeks episode at 9:00, and the new one at 10. 

Monday:

7:00-Street League Skateboarding:

With MLS taking Sunday Night, SLS can move to Monday Night. 

9:00-NASCAR Race Hub:

No other shows can fit here, and FS1 has no other live sports. So, Race Hub it is. 

9:30-FOX Soccer Daily:

Soccer's best review show returns after college basketball ends and stays until Bundesliga, La Liga, EPL, Ligue 1 and Serie A end in the late spring. 

10:00-The Ultimate Fighter:

A rerun of the previous nights episode fits the best. 

Tuesday:

7:00 and 9:30 or 7:30 and 10:00-NBA:

FOX not only receives Thursday games when buying out Turner Sports, but late season Tuesday games which now are on TNT. 

Wednesday:

2:30-UEFA Champions League:

The world's biggest soccer tournament is a better draw than Mike Francesa. 

7:00 and 9:00-UFC Fight Night Prelims and Main Card: Why not put all Fight Nights on Wednesday, one every week. I wonder what fans would think. Also, they have nothing else to go up against the NBA on ESPN. 

Thursday:

7:00 and 9:30 or 7:30 and 10:00-NBA:

FOX receives Thursday games when buying out Turner Sports which are great ratings draws. 

Friday:

Afternoon-NASCAR Practice and Qualifying:

Like I said before, this kind of stuff can turn up 3/4 million people, so it's quality programming. 

7:30-NCWTS Race:

Draws a fairly sized turnout, like NSCS Qualifying and Practice. 

Saturday:

7:30-Bundesliga:

Look what NBC did with Premier League, now I'm not saying FOX has to have a match weekly, but they need some games on FS1 with the key game of the final week on broadcast. 

10:00-NASCAR Practice:

It's a pretty big draw, so it's good for FS1. 

12:30-Bundesliga:

They have the room, so they can air the match of the week. 

3:00-NASCAR Nationwide Series:

It's a very big, 2,000,000 viewer draw. 

6:00 and 8:00-UFC Numbered Event Prefight Show and Prelims:

Like with Wednesday, except the Main Card is on PPV, we would have a fight every week? That would be cool. 

Leave comments below. Thanks for reading. 

FS1 Revamped Schedule: February

Thanks for checking out part 2 right here of my series on FS1's schedule makeover. 

Here is February:

Sunday:

11:00-NASCAR Raceday

Before every race, there is always Raceday. That's it. 

12:00-College Basketball

Hey, it will help by unloading some games off their arms on weekdays when pre-empted by NASCAR. 

2:00-Women's College Basketball:

Since there will probably be an in-progress NBA game on ABC, the men's game won't be a draw either. 

4:00, 5:00 and 6:00-Monster Jam:

Sundays may work when there is no NASCAR coverage, which the February races will probably be on FOX. So that means that FS1 is left with Monster Jam. 

7:00-Street League Skateboarding: With the rights already, FS1 needs some time filling programming before my 9:00 plan. Plus, this could maybe develop into something.  

9:00 and 10:00-The Ultimate Fighter: TUF is a very highly watched show for FS1 standards, so why not air last weeks episode at 9:00, and the new one at 10. 

Monday:

7:00 and 9:00-College Basketball: With 90 Big East games annually, FS1 needs College Basketball every minute they can. They also have nothing else that fits. 

Tuesday:

7:00 and 9:00-College Basketball: Just like Monday. No other rights. Lots of games necessary. 

Wednesday:

2:30-UEFA Champions League:

The world's biggest soccer tournament is a better draw than Mike Francesa. 

7:00 and 9:00-UFC Fight Night Prelims and Main Card: Why not put all Fight Nights on Wednesday, one every week. I wonder what fans would think. Also, Big East basketball can't go up against the NBA on ESPN. 

Thursday:

7:00 and 9:30 or 7:30 and 10:00-NBA: If FOX purchases Time Warner, it would be pretty smart to move the Thursday NBA games to FS1, because they are usually big draws. Just a thought, like with Wednesday and with Saturday, too. Will be moved to TNT if pre-empted by NASCAR. 

Friday:

Afternoon-NASCAR Practice and Qualifying:

This kind of stuff can turn up 3/4 million people, so it's quality programming. 

7:30-NCWTS Race:

Draws a fairly sized turnout, like NSCS Qualifying and Practice. 

Saturday:

(For pre-Daytona schedule, refer to January)

11:00 and 1:00-College Basketball:

They need to air games, and with the Nationwide, it will be harder, but an early start is maybe a small ratings boost. 

3:00-NASCAR Nationwide Series:

These races are very strong draws, and sometimes beat out the UFC. 

6:00 and 8:00-UFC Numbered Event Prefight Show and Prelims:

Like with Wednesday, except the Main Card is on PPV, can we have a fight every week? Hopefully, because that would be cool. 

Next is March, where the Sprint Cup has races on cable, and things get more complicated. 

FS1 Revamped Schedule: January

As FS1 fast approaches its one-year anniversary, I think we all know its ratings have busted by FOX's standards. Regardless, I'm here to show what their schedule should be, month by month, with the rights they have and the rights they would get by aquiring Turner Sports, which looks very likely. 

Here is January:

Sunday:

12:00 and 2:00-Women's College Basketball: What else fits here, up against the NFL Playoffs. Let the viewers focus mostly on FOX's NFL games, not FS1. 

4:00, 5:00 and 6:00-Monster Jam: This works because again it's not high profile viewing. NFL Playoffs will still be on. 

7:00-Street League Skateboarding: With the rights already, FS1 needs some time filling programming before my 9:00 plan. Plus, this could maybe develop into something.  

9:00 and 10:00-The Ultimate Fighter: TUF is a very highly watched show for FS1 standards, so why not air last weeks episode at 9:00, and the new one at 10. 

Monday:

7:00 and 9:00-College Basketball: With 90 Big East games annually, FS1 needs College Basketball every minute they can. They also have nothing else that fits. 

Tuesday:

7:00 and 9:00-College Basketball: Just like Monday. No other rights. Lots of games necessary. 

Wednesday:

(Warning, this may come as a shock to UFC Fans)

2:30-UEFA Champions League:

The world's biggest soccer tournament is a better draw than Mike Francesa. 

7:00 and 9:00-UFC Fight Night Prelims and Main Card: Why not put all Fight Nights on Wednesday, one every week. I wonder what fans would think. Also, Big East basketball can't go up against the NBA on ESPN. 

Thursday:

7:00 and 9:30 or 7:30 and 10:00-NBA: If FOX purchases Time Warner, it would be pretty smart to move the Thursday NBA games to FS1, because they are usually big draws. Just a thought, like with Wednesday and with Saturday, too. 

Friday:

7:00, 9:00 and 11:00-College Basketball: 90 Games of the Big East, plus a handful of Pac-12 games. Lots of rights. And Monster Jam is now on Sundays. 

Saturday:

12:00, 2:00 and 4:00-College Basketball: Just like ESPN, lots of College Basketball because, why not. There is the fact that once again, there is nothing else to air. 

6:00 and 8:00-UFC Numbered Event Prefight Show and Prelims:

Like with Wednesday, except the Main Card is on PPV, can we have a fight every week? Hopefully, because that would be cool. 

Next up is February, NASCAR starts and FOX has exclusitivity until July. What will it look like? Leave comments below. 

ESPN2's embarrassing schedule

Let's give it up for the deuce today which is carrying some amazing afternoon programming. First, tape-delayed Canadian bowling action (yeah!) followed by some professional women's soccer. Wow, ESPN. This afternoon is going to suck. 

A look inside Fox's failed bid to buy Time Warner

Time Warner announced yesterday that it would not accept News Corp.'s $80B bid to purchase their company. But if it worked out, it would've shaken the sports media world upside-down. Would FOX take sports off of TNT, TBS and TruTV?  Would they strip HBO of boxing? Would the networks trade properties? But one thing's for certain: they'd be a very legitimate threat to the four-letter network because they'd have national rights to NFL, NBA, MLB, Big 12, Pac 12, NCAA Basketball Tournament, UFC, 2 of the 4 Golf Majors (US Open and PGA Championship), FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, Big East, NASCAR and other small rights. 

So that means there would be no second tier in Sports Cable anymore. FS1 would be up to ESPN's shoulders. At least. Now with the NCAA Tournament, they would look more appealing to the NBA and NCAA Conferences. Now with the entire MLB Playoffs except the Wild Card games, ESPN might just give up on the league one year into the new contract. 

Just remember, this is Rupert Murdoch, he'll keep trying. 

News from awfulannouncing.com

MLB TV Deal Do-Over

Year one of the new TV deal for the MLB is starting slow, with the highest rated game on FS1 being a 0.4. Now, what if the MLB could do this deal again? (MLB Network will not be included due to league ownership)

Current Partners: FOX, ESPN, TBS, FS1

New Partners: FOX, NBC, FS1, ESPN, NBCSN

Current Setup:

FOX: 12 Sat. games

ESPN: 90 Sun., Mon., Wed., and holiday games

TBS: 13 Sun. games

FS1: 40 Sat. games

New Setup:

FOX: 16 Mon. Primetime games (Opening Day and Memorial Day through Labor Day)

NBC: 30 Sat. games (First Summer Saturday through Labor Day Saturday tripleheaders) and 1 Labor Day Game

FS1: 26 Thurs. Night Games, 2 Memorial Day Games and 1 Labor Day Game

ESPN: 26 Sun. Night Games, 5 Opening Day Games and 13 Wed. Night Doubleheaders

NBCSN: 13 Tues. Night Doubleheaders and 3 4th of July Games

Current Holiday Schedule:

Opening Day: 

1:00-ESPN2

3:00-ESPN

4:00-ESPN2

7:00-ESPN

10:00-ESPN2

Memorial Day:

1:00-ESPN

4:00-ESPN

4th of July:

3:00-ESPN2

7:00-ESPN

Labor Day:

1:00-ESPN

New Holiday Schedule:

Opening Day:

1:00-ESPN

4:30-ESPN

8:00-FOX

Memorial Day:

12:00-FS1

3:00-FS1

6:00-FOX

9:00-FOX

4th of July:

1:00-NBCSN

4:00-NBCSN

7:00-NBCSN

Labor Day:

4:00-NBC

7:00-FOX

10:00-FS1

Current Special Event Schedule:

HR Derby:

8:00-ESPN

All-Star Game:

8:00-FOX

New Special Event Schedule:

HR Derby:

8:00-ESPN

All-Star Game:

8:00-FOX

August Sat. Puerto Rico Game:

7:00-NBC

Current Playoff Schedule:

WC Games: ESPN and TBS

LDS: FS1 and TBS

LCS: FS1 and TBS

WS: FOX

New Playoff Schedule:

WC Games: ESPN

LDS: FS1 and NBCSN

LCS: FS1 (gm 7 on FOX) and NBCSN (gm 7 on NBC)

WS: FOX

Also, leave comments for new special event baseball games.