FOX negotiating to end NIT

[bobbyinaz]

Fox Proposes New Vegas-Based College Hoops Tournament

The field for late March would include the top 16 teams from the Big East, Big Ten and Big 12 that didn't make the NCAA tournament

themessenger.com

FOX looking to end the NIT.

Many have said that hoops will never break away but could this be the first step?

 

[Rufus]

If the NCAA tourney expands again, I think the NIT goes away anyways. 16 teams from those three conferences, plus a possible expanded March madness, all but assures nearly every team in those three conferences make the postseason.

 

[CL82]

I'd like to believe that this is a statement of the value of Big East basketball, but I think it's more about Fox attempting to maximize its ROI on its properties.

 

[Patman]

I'd say this is certainly a floater towards the end of the NCAA

 

[UConnJim]

I'd say this is certainly a floater towards the end of the NCAA

I think this is more a battle between FOX and ESPN. ESPN broadcasts the NIT and FOX is setting up their version with their media assets as CBS/Turner have the NCAA Tournament. ESPN is SEC/ACC/Some B12 and FOX is Big 10/Big East/Some Big 12. Remember, this potential tournament and the NIT are not ratings bonanzas. They will be for gamblers and fans in Las Vegas.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

A separate but related topic. There is, or likely already has been, multiple games point shaved since gambling went mainstream. Combining gambling with sports is going to end badly.