ESPN gives up in fight for March Madness...

• sportswizuhrd

  CBS keeps it and Turner Broadcasting is coming aboard. CBS, TBS, TNT and....Tru TV(huh?,why?)
  
  http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5100441
  

  The publication said a 14-year deal averaging $840 million per year has been offered by CBS and Turner Broadcasting and given to the NCAA. It cited several sources "with direct knowledge of the talks."

  we could see this...
  
  
• sleeper

  

  Epic win.
• Emmett Brown

  

  It says the Final Four would rotate from CBS to TNT. The final four on cable?
• krambman

  

  Emmett Brown wrote: It says the Final Four would rotate from CBS to TNT. The final four on cable?

  The BCS is moving to cable. Part of the reason that the BCS agreed to move to ESPN was because 95% of households that watched the BCS bowls have ESPN. Most pro sports now play part of their postseason on cable as well. Let's be honest, almost everyone has cable or satellite now.
• Azubuike24

  

  Those who don't have it, most of them do it by choice because they watch shows online or don't have the time to watch.
• purple_rein

  As big as ESPN is, I guess a CBS/Turner combo is too much to overcome.
• reclegend22

  

  Thank you, God.
• mallymal614

  The bully (ESPN) finally got bullied.
• CinciX12

  

  I just find it funny that ESPN has to report about ESPN.
• wildcats20

  

  So does this mean that all 4 1st round games will be seen and we won't have to rely on MMOD all the time???
• chicago510

  

  lol @ TruTV
  
  i refuse to watch a bball game on TruTv
  
  what was turner classic movie channel booked?
• reclegend22

  

  Haha I was joking with a friend about the TruTV thing last night. I told him that TBS and TNT were going to be broadcasting NCAA games from now on and asked him to guess the third channel that would accompany CBS's coverage.. He guessed about 60 channels and never once said it, and he watches TruTV for shows like Forensic Files all the time. He told me he refused to say that channel because he didn't possibly believe such a stupid channel could host NCAA games. I would tend to agree.
  
  What's next? Conference tournaments on JENNA?
• THE4RINGZ

  

  Will the Women's Final Four be broadcast on Lifetime or Oxygen under this new deal?
• sportswizuhrd

  I'm actually glad its on TruTV and not the CBS College Sports Network. I dont have any numbers but I bet ALOT of people dont get that channel.
• krambman

  

  I don't get why it's such a big deal that a few games will be on TruTV. It will still be the same CBS production crew and commentators broadcasting the games. The games will look and sound just like they always have, only there will be a TruTV logo in the corner of the screen instead of the CBS eye. Besides, the regional game of interest will still be on CBS and the other three will be on the other three networks in your area.
• wildcats20

  

  ^^I agree. I could care less what channels the games are on, as long as I get to see all 4.
• reclegend22

  

  Oh, I agree. I just think it's funny.
  
  With Kyle Singler on Duke, I don't care if the tournament games are only played through my Super Nintendo.
• JU-ICE

  THE4RINGZ wrote: Will the Women's Final Four be broadcast on Lifetime or Oxygen under this new deal?

  I would guess they will be on LOGO.
• ts1227

  

  Emmett Brown wrote: It says the Final Four would rotate from CBS to TNT. The final four on cable?

  This won't start until 2016.
  
  But, as mentioned, the BCS is going to cable next year (that contract specifically states ESPN, not the ESPN/ABC family), so it's not surprising.
  
  
  Surprised no one mentioned this, but this deal expands the tournament to 68, NOT 96
  http://www.ncaa.org/wps/portal/ncaahome?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/ncaa/ncaa/media+and+events/press+room/news+release+archive/2010/announcements/20100422+cbs+turner+ncaa+rights+agreement+rls
• gorocks99

  

  http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2010/04/ncaa-reaches-14-year-deal-with-cbsturner/1
  

  In the new deal, the opening, first- and second-round games will all be shown nationally on CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV. CBS and Turner will split coverage for the regional semifinal games.
  
  CBS will continue to broadcast the regional finals, Final Four and national championship games through 2015. Starting in 2016, the regional finals will be split between CBS and Turner with the Final Four and national championship games being alternated every year.

• gorocks99

  

  The great news is, no more being forced to watch a crappy game on TV while another more exciting one is going on. With all the games shown, you'll actually be able to catch all the action.
• hoops23

  

  I like TNT's coverage of the NBA, and despite some of my camera quarrels about CBS, I generally love their coverage as well..
  
  So I like this move.
• big_red_drummer

  

  In the new deal, the opening, first- and second-round games will all be shown nationally on CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV.

  Tyler Perry Presents: Tyler Perry's NCAA Tournament
• ts1227

  

  LTrain23 wrote: I like TNT's coverage of the NBA, and despite some of my camera quarrels about CBS, I generally love their coverage as well..
  
  So I like this move.

  I have a feeling it may just be CBS's coverage/broadcast teams shown on TNT, etc. It doesn't really specify, but it would probably make the most sense.