Frontline Season 29 Episode 10 Money and March Madness

Money and March Madness is the 10th episode of the 29th season of the award-winning investigative documentary series, Frontline. The episode focuses on the highly-profitable college basketball industry and the debate surrounding whether or not student-athletes deserve to be paid for their involvement.

For decades, the NCAA has generated billions of dollars in revenue each year through March Madness, the annual college basketball tournament. However, players themselves are not allowed to profit from their own individual success and skill, while their coaches and universities reap the benefits. This has sparked heated discussions around the country as to whether college athletes should be receiving a cut of the profits they bring in.

The episode explores the many sides of this complicated issue, looking at the financial and ethical implications of paying college athletes. It features interviews with former college basketball players, coaches, and industry insiders, as well as legal experts and advocates for athlete pay.

One key point of discussion is the fact that the NCAA's "amateurism" rules forbid players from receiving any compensation beyond scholarships and stipends. However, many argue that this outdated notion of amateurism is no longer relevant in today's landscape, where top college basketball programs generate enormous amounts of revenue.

The episode also looks at the potential consequences of allowing athletes to be paid, including the possibility of schools losing their tax-exempt status and the impact on smaller or less successful athletic programs. In addition, there is debate around how best to compensate athletes fairly, with options ranging from a simple stipend to a more complex revenue-sharing system.

Overall, Money and March Madness offers a deep dive into a controversial and complex issue within the world of college sports. It presents viewers with a balanced examination of the arguments for and against compensating college athletes and leaves it up to the audience to decide where they stand on the issue.