Surely you realize that the "windows" thing was only applicable when it was regional coverage on CBS, right? You do realize that when the games started being broadcast on four different networks they started doing ratings individually, yes?
Yes they still use windows.
http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/2012/03/ncaa-tournament-tv-ratings-flat-through-sundays-games/
2nd paragraph. And you can see the 4.8 and 5.6 thur-sun ratings for the years 2010 and 2011/12 while you are at it. Through Sunday, so they are actually lower on the true early games (thurs and fri) we were talking about.
Turner and Viacom are separate entities. You think they sell ratings based on someone else's "window" of games?
Are you serious? What the heck does it matter who has the games? I assume you mean sell ads, who sells ratings?
You think Nielsen Media, who does the ratings, changes their business model to make the NCAA look better? That's preposterous.
Now we are creating preposterous statements and claiming I said them to try and win a non existing point. This must be wearing on you.
When the window was used, it was done so because CBS had time slots where regional games were played within the time slot. The regional games were measured within the regions of the country they were shown. But when the four-network model came into action a couple of years ago, the game changed because they are now showing four different games on four different networks. The average of those games are taken as separate programming. That's because Nielsen is not viewing those games as "windows." They're viewing the games as four separate games on four separate channels.
In fact, if you read one of those press releases put out the last two years about ratings, you'll see they even explain that tournament averages are based on weighted "averages" of the 4 telecast "gross." So in other words, the average is based on total ratings of all games on each network, then weighted to number of telecasts and averaged.
In other words, you are going to define the window , but not call it a window because you cant admit you are wrong yet again.
Here you go
Another link describing the four network Nielson window ( their words)
http://content.usatoday.com/communi...w-that-ncaa-gets-normal-coverage-ratings-up/1
Like I said earlier, it's about inventory. Back when CBS had regional coverage, this wouldn't have been a big deal. But the decision to broadcast all games separately on a different network changed the game. It allowed people to choose their game of choice and maximized the viewership.
I also think it's amusing that Duke-Butler ratings were because of Duke, yet UCONN-Butler ratings were better than Kansas-Kentucky. Why was Duke-Butler better than Kansas-Kentucky, North Carolina-Michigan State, etc.? Does Duke draw better than all the other superpowers combined? Hardly.
Lets see, should you at least try and check something before talking out of your arse? Nah, why start now. Everyone knows Butler carried Duke. You might want to check the last time an ncaa basketball championship rating was higher. It was Duke in 1999. The last one to equal it was a battle of BCS schools, UNC and Illinois in 2005.
You still haven't been able to answer my question about where all the "discussion" on this is coming from. It's an easy question, yet you've refused to answer it.