Turner and CBS share NCAA duties through 2024
April 22, 2010, by
Surprisingly, ESPN dropped out of the running to air the NCAA tournament. In the meantime, CBS will now share the duties with Atlanta-based Turner Broadcasting, which will air NCAA games on TBS, TNT and truTV. The deal runs through 2024.
CBS had not been able to air all the games at the same time since the network lacks multiple cable channels.
Between the two networks, $10.8 billion will be expended over a dozen years. And there will be 68 games instead of 65, if the Division 1 board of directors approves.
Here's more info from the New York Times:
Through 2015, CBS will cover the regional finals, the Final Four and the championship game. But starting in 2016, CBS and Turner will split the regional finals and the Final Four, and the national championship game will alternate annually between CBS and TBS.
About the Author
Rodney Ho writes about entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution including TV, radio, film, comedy and all things in between. A native New Yorker, he has covered education at The Virginian-Pilot, small business for The Wall Street Journal and a host of beats at the AJC over 20-plus years. He loves tennis, pop culture & seeing live events.
