As we’ve been telling you here for the last several months, all 67 games of this year’s expanded NCAA Tournament (aka "March Madness") will be broadcast for the first time, but instead of just one network (CBS), as in the past, there will be four networks (CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV) sharing the "Madness".
This past Thursday, CBS Sports and Turner Sports (TBS, TNT, and truTV) released their joint television schedule for this year's NCAA men's basketball tournament, and the big selling point is that all of the games will be available live in their entirety across the above four national networks.
Below for your perusal is the breakdown of the four channels that will be featuring the expanded field this year. I warn you that it's highly confusing, so try and keep up.
The expanded 68-team tournament tips off in prime time on truTV on Tuesday, March 15, with a set of games being called the "First Four." The opening game airs at 6:30 p.m. ET followed by a game at 9 p.m. That schedule will be repeated the next day (Wednesday, March 16) on truTV (please note all times are Eastern):
Tuesday, March 15th (First Four)
Game One (truTV, 6:30pm)
Game Two (truTV, 9pm)
Wednesday, March 16th (First Four)
Game One (truTV, 6:30pm)
Game Two (truTV, 9pm)
The "First Four" winners will advance to what is now known as the Second Round, which will take place on Thursday and Friday, March 17 and 18, as follows:
Thursday, March 17th (Second Round)
Flight One: CBS (Noon), truTV (12:30pm), TBS and TNT (2pm)
Flight Two: CBS (2:30pm), truTV (3pm), TBS (4pm), TNT (4:30pm)
Flight Three: TBS (6:45pm), CBS (7pm), tru TV and TNT (7:15pm)
Flight Four: TBS (9:15pm), CBS (9:30pm), TNT (9:45pm), truTV (9:55pm)
Friday, March 18th (Second Round)
Flight One: CBS (Noon), truTV (12:30pm), TBS and TNT (2pm)
Flight Two: CBS (2:30pm), truTV (3pm), TBS (4pm), TNT (4:30pm)
Flight Three: TBS (6:45pm), CBS (7pm), tru TV and TNT (7:15pm)
Flight Four: TBS (9:15pm), CBS (9:30pm), TNT (9:45pm), truTV (9:55pm)
The staggered start times mean viewers can juggle between games, as well as get added pre- and post-game show commentary from CBS and Turner talent.
As mentioned here last month, CBS and Turner announced that studio programming for halftime and post-game shows will originate from both New York and Atlanta, with the main anchor chair shared daily by CBS veteran Greg Gumbel and longtime TNT host Ernie Johnson. TNT's "Inside the NBA" analysts, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith, will provide analysis throughout the tournament from the CBS studios in New York alongside Gumbel or Johnson. CBS analyst, Greg Anthony, will also be part of the New York-based studio show.
Round Three will be televised over the opening weekend, beginning Saturday, March 19 at noon. The TV schedules will be the same both days except that on Sunday, truTV will televise the 7:30 p.m. game that was telecast by CBS on Saturday:
Saturday, March 19th (Round Three)
Game One (CBS, Noon)
Game Two (CBS, 2:30pm)
Game Three (CBS, 5pm)
Game Four (TNT, 6pm)
Game Five (TBS, 7pm)
Game Six (CBS, 7:30pm)
Game Seven (TNT, 8pm)
Game Eight (TBS, 9:30pm)
Sunday, March 20th (Round Three)
Game One (CBS, Noon)
Game Two (CBS, 2:30pm)
Game Three (CBS, 5pm)
Game Four (TNT, 6pm)
Game Five (TBS, 7pm)
Game Six (truTV, 7:30pm)
Game Seven (TNT, 8pm)
Game Eight (TBS, 9:30pm)
The regional semifinal games (aka "Sweet Sixteen") on Thursday and Friday (March 24-25), will air on CBS and TBS, as follows:
Thursday, March 24th (Sweet Sixteen)
Game One (CBS, 7pm)
Game Two (TBS, 7:15pm)
Game Three (CBS, 9:30pm)
Game Four (TBS, 9:55)
Friday, March 25th (Sweet Sixteen)
Game One (CBS, 7pm)
Game Two (TBS, 7:15pm)
Game Three (CBS, 9:30pm)
Game Four (TBS, 9:55)
CBS will broadcast all of the "Elite Eight" games on Saturday and Sunday (March 26-27):
Saturday, March 26th (Elite Eight)
Game One (CBS, 4:20pm)
Game Two (CBS, 6:55pm)
Sunday, March 27th (Elite Eight)
Game One (CBS, 2:10pm)
Game Two (CBS, 4:55pm)
The national semifinals (aka "Final Four") and championship game will air on CBS. TruTV will have a one-hour tip-off show leading up to CBS' Championship Game coverage on April 4 and conclude with the postgame show sometime around midnight:
Saturday, April 2nd (Final Four)
Game One (CBS, 6pm)
Game Two (CBS, 8:30pm)
Monday, April 4th
Championship Game (9pm)
Total Number of Games by Channel: CBS (26), TBS (16), truTV (13), TNT (12)
CBS will air the Final Four through 2015 before giving it over to Turner in 2016.
As far as the staggered starting times during the first week, you have to love it. The only problem is trying to figure out the channel numbers for TBS, TNT, and truTV and then if you even get TRU TV.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
HMW
MIKE IN DA
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