CFP not looking to move from New Years Eve semi final schedule

Ratings were down 13% compared to last year's New Year's Day schedule and were described as "modest".  The suits think the lack of competitive games contributed to the lower ratings.  They may be right but both games, including MSU vs Alabama were competitive in the first half or 90 minutes of the broadcast.

I think their problem is two fold.  Most importantly, they have thrown in with ESPN for cable only broadcast.  ESPN is hemorrhaging subscribers (they are down 7M subscribers in the last 2 years) and that number is predicted to increase as cable cutting continues.  A quick, although painful decision for ESPN would be to move the games over to the ABC side of the business that would expand potential viewership.  But then they have to deal with ABC local affiliates unhappy with losing local ad revenue.

The other issue is, regardless of how competitive the games may or may not be, New Year's Eve is still a huge social event in the U.S.  I don't see college football no matter how popular displacing all the other more established traditions that go with New Year's Eve.  Casual fans may watch the early game because it's there but the later game has to compete with all the other stuff and will always be susceptible to 2nd half viewer drop off.   Super Bowl Sunday was an NFL creation to fill what was a blank Sunday in late January. Can't see the CFP creating a similar social phenomena.

Worse is what happens if either game, especially the late one, would go like TCU/Oregon into 3 or 4 overtimes?  Having a game end after midnight would not fit into their plans.  Accusations of fix would be flying.

My solution is to put the games back to ABC, play the games New Year's Day or the day after.  ESPN/ABC has put millions into this and maybe their conflict is not wanting to bump heads with their $1.6B NFL agreement by pushing games into some NFL territory.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2016/01/02/college-football-playoff-new-years-eve-games/78209850/

I actually think that it's borderline criminal to have any major bowl broadcast on cable. Bring them all back to OTA.

If the Rose/Sugar Bowl is not a Semifinal game, the Playoff games will never be New Year's Day (because the Rose and Sugar won't give up their day/time slot).

Next year will work out better. NYE is on Saturday. Ratings will be much higher. Peach and Fiesta semis will be Saturday (Orange will be the early non-playoff game). Cotton, Rose, and Sugar will all be on Monday (so as not to conflict with the NFL).