(07-27-2020 06:57 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  Keep in mind that the CFP semi-finals are included in (and probably dominate) the NY6 number.

The semifinals have larger audiences. The Rose and Sugar do very well even when they don't have semifinal games. The other non-semifinal bowls often have TV audiences that are quite a bit smaller. When the semifinals are at the Rose and Sugar -- i.e., in the two best time slots -- then the two semis combined are worth about as much to TV as the other four CFP bowls combined.

2019-20
Fiesta, CFP semi, CLEM-OSU, Dec 28, 21.15M viewers
Peach, CFP semi, LSU-OU, Dec 28, 17.21M
Rose, ORE-WISC, Jan 1, 16.30M
Sugar, UGA-BYLR, Jan 1, 10.22M
Cotton, PSU-MEM, Dec 28 early, 6.22M
Orange, UF-UVA, Dec 30, 6.07M

2018-19
Orange, CFP semi, ALA-OKLA, Dec 29, 19.069M
Cotton, CFP semi, CLEM-ND, Dec 29, 16.809M
Rose, OSU-WASH, Jan 1, 16.781M
Sugar, TEX-UGA, Jan 1, 13.298M
Fiesta, LSU-UCF, Jan 1 early, 8.471M
Peach, UF-MICH, Dec 29 early, 8.366M

2017-18
Rose, CFP semi, UGA-OU, Jan 1, 26.913M
Sugar, CFP semi, ALA-CLEM, Jan 1, 21.473M
Orange, WISC-MIA, Dec 30, 11.727M
Fiesta, PSU-WASH, Dec 30, 10.167M
Cotton, OSU-USC, Dec 29, 9.468M
Peach, UCF-AUB, Jan 1 early, 8.377M

2016-17
Peach, CFP semi, ALA-WASH, Dec 31, 19.344M
Fiesta, CFP semi, CLEM-OSU, Dec 31, 19.237M
Rose, USC-PSU, Jan 2, 15.740M
Sugar, OU-AUB, Jan 2, 9.515M
Orange, FSU-MICH, Dec 30, 11.461M
Cotton, WISC-WMU, Jan 2 early, 5.442M

That means that to maximize TV audiences and TV money for an 8-team playoff, the semifinals should always be in the two late time slots on Jan. 1, the final should be on the first Monday night that is at least a week after Jan. 1, and the first round should be on the Saturday that is between one and two weeks before Jan. 1.