Ayrton Oneill
The NCAA basketball championship game often starts late in the evening, with tip-off times ranging from 8:20 p.m. to 9:20 p.m. ET. While the NCAA hasn't provided an official explanation for the late start, it is likely to maximize viewership across the country, especially for those on the West Coast. The later start time allows individuals on the West Coast to watch the game after their workday ends, typically after 8 p.m. ET. Additionally, the length of college basketball games, which typically last about two hours, enables the NCAA to schedule a later start time for the men's championship game.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date and time of the 2021 college basketball championship game | Monday, 9:20 p.m. ET |
| Date and time of the 2024 college basketball championship game | Monday, 9:20 p.m. ET |
| Date and time of the 2025 college basketball championship game | Monday, 8:50 p.m. ET |
| Reason for late start times | Maximizing viewership across the country, especially for West Coast viewers |
| Average length of a college basketball game | Two hours |
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What You'll Learn
- The NCAA wants to maximise viewership across the country
- The later start time is more convenient for West Coast viewers
- The game will finish at a reasonable hour for East Coast viewers
- The late start time could encourage viewers to tune into pre-game shows
- The length of college basketball games enables a later start time
The NCAA wants to maximise viewership across the country
The NCAA hasn't given an official explanation for the late start time of the basketball championship game, but it is likely that the organisation wants to maximise viewership across the country.
Firstly, the later start time allows the game to begin during the evening for viewers on the West Coast, in prime time in the Central Time Zone, and at a reasonable hour for those in the Mountain Time Zone. This ensures that the game is accessible to a larger portion of the country, as a significant 20-22% of the population lives in the Mountain and Pacific time zones. By starting at 9:20 p.m. ET, those on the West Coast can watch the game after their workday ends at 6 p.m. PT, while those in the Central Time Zone can tune in at 8:20 p.m. CT, and Mountain Time Zone viewers can watch at 7:20 p.m. MT.
Secondly, the late start time may capture a wider audience for the pre-game shows, allowing networks to engage viewers for longer than just the typical two-hour window of the game. The additional viewers who tune in earlier may also be incentivised to continue watching the game, potentially increasing overall viewership.
Moreover, the length of college basketball games, which typically last around two hours, enables the NCAA to schedule a later start time for the men's championship game. This is in contrast to college football games, which usually exceed three hours, necessitating an earlier start time to avoid encroaching on the late hours for the East Coast audience.
While the late start time may inconvenience East Coast viewers, the NCAA likely prioritises maximising viewership across all time zones, ensuring that the game is accessible to as many potential viewers as possible, particularly those on the West Coast.
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The later start time is more convenient for West Coast viewers
While the NCAA hasn't given an official explanation for the late start time of the basketball championship, it is likely to be more convenient for viewers on the West Coast. Between 20-22% of the nation lives in the Mountain or Pacific time zones, and an earlier start would mean that they would be tuning in later in the evening. By starting at 9:20 p.m. ET, the game begins at 6:20 p.m. on the West Coast, meaning that potential viewers with 9-5 jobs won't have to miss any of the game. This is also a perfect viewing window for those on the West Coast, as the game will finish before midnight.
The later start time also allows the game to start during the evening for viewers in the Central Time Zone, and in prime time in the Central Time Zone. For example, the 2025 championship game in San Antonio started at 8:50 p.m. ET, just before 8 p.m. in the local time zone. The 2021 championship game also started at 9:20 p.m. ET, with the local time in Texas being 8:20 p.m.
The late start time also has benefits for the NCAA, as it may lead to more viewers tuning into pre-game shows, allowing the networks to capture the audience for longer than just the two-hour window of the game.
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The game will finish at a reasonable hour for East Coast viewers
While the basketball championship's start time may be late for those on the East Coast, the game will finish at a reasonable hour. The typical length of a college basketball game is around two hours, so even if the game runs long, it should still be over before midnight on the East Coast. This is in contrast to college football games, which often last well over three hours, necessitating an earlier start time to ensure the game doesn't run into the early morning hours.
The later start time for the basketball championship allows the game to begin during the evening for viewers on the West Coast and in prime time for those in the Central Time Zone. This maximizes viewership by accommodating fans across different time zones. For example, the 2024 NCAA Tournament championship between UConn and Purdue started at 9:20 p.m. ET, which was 6:20 p.m. on the West Coast, making it convenient for viewers with 9-5 jobs.
The NCAA has not given an official explanation for the late start times, but it is likely to cater to viewers in all time zones, especially those on the West Coast, to ensure the game is accessible to as many fans as possible.
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The late start time could encourage viewers to tune into pre-game shows
While the NCAA hasn't given an official explanation for the late start time of the basketball championship, it is likely to encourage viewers to tune into pre-game shows. By accommodating viewers in different time zones, particularly those on the West Coast, the late start time aims to maximise viewership.
The later start time ensures that the game begins during the evening for West Coast viewers and falls within prime time for the Central Time Zone. For example, if the game starts at 9:20 p.m. ET, it will be 6:20 p.m. on the West Coast, allowing viewers with 9-5 jobs to tune in without missing any action. This consideration for different time zones ensures that the game is accessible to a broader audience.
Additionally, the late start time can capture viewers' attention for longer than just the duration of the game. With the pre-game shows and the game itself, networks can engage viewers for an extended period. This provides an opportunity for networks to showcase additional content and potentially increase their ratings.
While the late start time may be a challenge for East Coast viewers who have to stay up late, it is a strategic decision to cater to a wider audience. The NCAA aims to balance the needs of viewers across various time zones, ensuring that the championship game is accessible and convenient for as many fans as possible.
The late start time also takes into account the length of college basketball games. By starting later, the NCAA can ensure that the game doesn't run into the early morning hours, especially for the East Coast viewers. This consideration helps maintain a reasonable viewing window, encouraging more people to tune in and stay engaged throughout the entire game.
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The length of college basketball games enables a later start time
The length of college basketball games, which typically last about two hours, enables a later start time for the NCAA men's championship game. The NCAA has not provided an official explanation for the late start times, but it is likely to maximise viewership across the country, especially for those on the West Coast.
The later start time allows the game to begin during the evening for West Coast viewers and in primetime for Central Time Zone viewers. For example, if the game starts at 9:20 p.m. ET, it will begin at 6:20 p.m. locally for those on the West Coast, allowing potential viewers with 9-5 jobs to watch the game from the start. The later start time also means the game will finish at a reasonable hour for East Coast viewers, encouraging more people to tune in.
By comparison, college football games typically last at least three hours, requiring an earlier start time of around 8 p.m. ET to avoid running into the early morning hours on the East Coast. The length of college basketball games, therefore, provides more flexibility for scheduling, allowing the NCAA to cater to viewers in multiple time zones.
Additionally, the late start time may lead more viewers to tune into pre-game shows, increasing the overall viewership for the event. While there is an upside to the late start, it is worth considering the impact on East Coast viewers, who may feel they are getting the \"short end of the stick\" with the later hours.
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Frequently asked questions
The NCAA hasn't given an official explanation, but the late start is likely to maximise viewership across the country. The later start time allows the game to start during the evening for viewers on the west coast and in primetime in the Central Time Zone.
The basketball championship game typically starts at 9:20 p.m. ET, though this year's game is being held in the Central Time Zone, so the start time will be 8:50 p.m. ET or 8:20 p.m. local time.
Typical college basketball games are about two hours long, while college football games usually run for at least three hours.
If you're planning to stay up late to watch the basketball championship, you can try drinking coffee to stay awake. Alternatively, you can record the game and watch it in the morning.
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