CBS Sports and Turner Broadcasting System Struck Deal With NCAA To Broadcast Division I Men’s Basketball Championship

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Posted by admin | Posted in Media News, Sports | Posted on 29-04-2010

CBS Sports and Turner Broadcasting System have signed 14-year television, internet and wireless rights agreement with NCAA to deliver the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship beginning in 2011 through 2024.

This agreement will allow CBS Sports and Turner Broadcasting System to broadcast all games across four national networks beginning in 2011 and the deal was worth $10.8 billion.

Beginning with the 2011 championship, opening- , first- and second-round games will be shown nationally on CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. CBS and Turner will split coverage of the regional semi-final games. CBS will provide coverage of the regional finals, as well as the Final Four including the National Championship Game through 2015. Beginning in 2016, coverage of the regional finals will be split by CBS and Turner with the Final Four and the National Championship game alternating every year between the CBS Television Network and Turner’s TBS.

NCAA Interim President Jim Isch, said “This is an important day for intercollegiate athletics and the 400,000 student-athletes who compete in NCAA sports. This agreement will provide on average more than $740 million annually to our conferences and member schools to help student-athletes in 23 sports learn and compete.”

Sean McManus, president of CBS News and Sports, said “This agreement with our colleagues at Turner and the NCAA secures CBS’s standing as a year-round leader in sports television well into the next decade.”

David Levy, president of sales, distribution and sports, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., said “This is a landmark deal for Turner Broadcasting and we’re extremely pleased to begin a long-term relationship with the NCAA and our partners at CBS and to have a commitment that extends well into the next decade. The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament has a rich tradition and is one of the most talked about sporting events every year highlighted by the Final Four and the National Championship Game.”

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