March Madness Returns: CBS and Turner Announce NCAA Tournament Coverage Plans through 2024

After much speculation regarding Turner Sports possibly having the National Championship next year, CBS and Turner have announced their broadcast plans through the 2024 season. TBS will broadcast two of the Elite Eight games and the two Final Four games during both the 2014 and 2015 seasons while CBS will have the other two Elite Eight games and the Championship game. Beginning in 2016 CBS and TBS will alternate which station carries both the semifinals and the national championship, with TBS carrying them in 2016. They will contiue to split the Elite Eight games through 2024. Here is the press release from CBS and Turner regarding the move.

For Release: May 7, 2013

CBS SPORTS AND TURNER SPORTS ANNOUNCE

PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE FOR 2014 AND 2015

NCAA FINAL FOUR® AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

TBS to Televise NCAA FINAL FOUR® National Semi-Final Games and

CBS Sports to Broadcast National Championship Games

CBS and TBS to Split ‘Elite Eight’ Coverage Beginning Next Year

TBS to Televise 2016 FINAL FOUR and National Championship Game and

CBS to Broadcast 2017 FINAL FOUR and National Championship Game, Alternating Through 2024

CBS Sports and Turner Sports have announced the programming schedule for their exclusive joint television coverage of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship in 2014 and 2015. In each of the two years, TBS will televise the NCAA Final Four national semi-finals and CBS will broadcast the NCAA National Championship game. 

Additionally, beginning in 2014 through 2024, coverage of the Regional Semi-finals and Regional Finals games will be split by TBS and CBS.  Earlier round coverage of the tournament will continue to be televised across four national television networks - CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV with the First Four® airing exclusively on truTV.

In 2010, Turner Sports and CBS Sports entered into a 14-year exclusive media rights partnership with the NCAA to present the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship from 2011-2024. As part of that agreement, CBS Sports and Turner Sports will alternate coverage of the Final Four national semi-final games and National Championship game between TBS and CBS. The rotation begins on TBS with the network televising the Final Four and National Championship in 2016 with CBS broadcasting the games in 2017.

“Since the inception of our partnership, I don’t think we could have envisioned such a seamless collaboration between our two companies both in front of and behind the cameras,” said David Levy, president of Sales, Distribution and Sports, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.  “Coming off another incredible year of strong ratings and exciting games, the popularity of the NCAA Tournament and Final Four continues to resonate with fans across the country.  We are thrilled to have the opportunity to televise the Final Four national semi-final games and two of the Elite Eight games on TBS beginning next year, and for the network to televise its first National Championship game in 2016.”

“From the beginning, our partnership with Turner Sports has exceeded every one of our expectations,” said Sean McManus, Chairman, CBS Sports.  “Today’s news represents another win-win arrangement that continues to help us extend the reach of this marquee property by combining the resources of our two organizations. As we have done since 1982, CBS is pleased to showcase the National Championship game in 2014 and 2015.”

Turner Sports and CBS Sports recently concluded their third year of exclusive coverage of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball National Championship. The 2013 tournament across TBS, CBS, TNT and truTV was the most-watched NCAA Tournament in 19 years, averaging 10.7 million total viewers, up 11% from last year’s 9.6 million viewers, according to Nielsen. 

About CBS Sports

CBS Sports, a year-round leader in television sports, broadcasts a portfolio of events on the CBS Television Network, including the NFL's American Football Conference; THE NFL TODAY; college basketball, including the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship; golf, including The Masters(r) and PGA Championship; college football, including the SEC ON CBS; the U.S. Open Tennis Championships and CBS SPORTS SPECTACULAR. In addition, the division directs CBS Sports Network, a 24-hour national cable network; produces INSIDE THE NFL for SHOWTIME; and partners with CBSSports.com in creating a recognized leader among sports Internet destinations.

About Turner Sports

Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is an industry leader in televised and online sports programming, airing championship-level sporting events on TBS, TNT and truTV, and managing some of the most popular sports sites on the Internet. Turner Sports’ television lineup includes the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, NASCAR and professional golf. The company’s digital portfolio includes Bleacher Report, NCAA.com and March Madness Live, and PGA.com, as well as an accompanying collection of mobile websites and connected device apps. Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital, which includes NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA Mobile, the NBA Game Time App, NBADLEAGUE.com and WNBA.com.

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Contacts:

Sal Petruzzi  Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.            212-275-6897              sal.petruzzi@turner.com

Jen Sabatelle CBS Sports                                 212-975-4120              jsabatelle@cbs.com