Television coverage and revenues NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament

1 television coverage , revenues

1.1 current television contracts
1.2 history of television coverage

1.2.1 broadcast coverage
1.2.2 espn & cbs share coverage
1.2.3 cbs takes over
1.2.4 viewing options emerge
1.2.5 hdtv coverage


1.3 international broadcasts

television coverage , revenues
current television contracts

since 2010, ncaa has had joint contract cbs , turner sports, division of time warner (which co-owns cw television network cbs). coverage of tournament split between cbs, tnt, tbs, , trutv.

broadcasters cbs, tbs, , tnt s sports coverage shared across 4 networks, cbs college basketball teams supplemented turner s nba teams, while studio segments take place @ cbs broadcast center in new york city , turner s studios in atlanta. in new york-based studio shows, cbs greg gumbel , clark kellogg joined ernie johnson, jr., kenny smith, , charles barkley of tnt s inside nba while seth davis of cbs assists matt winer , various nba tv personalities. while turner s primary nba voices, marv albert , kevin harlan, employed cbs in other capacities, lend analysts chris webber, grant hill, , reggie miller , secondary play-by-play man brian anderson cbs. in turn, cbs announcers jim nantz, brad nessler, spero dedes, , andrew catalon appear on turner network broadcasts along analysts len elmore, bill raftery, dan bonner, mike gminski, , doug gottlieb.

the current contract runs through 2024 and, first time in history, provides nationwide broadcast each year of games of tournament. first 4 games air on trutv. featured first- or second-round game in each time window broadcast on cbs, while other games shown either on tbs, tnt or trutv. regional semifinals, better known sweet sixteen, split between cbs , tbs. cbs had exclusive rights regional finals, known elite eight, through 2014. exclusivity extended entire final 4 well, after 2013 tournament turner sports elected exercise contractual option 2014 , 2015 giving tbs broadcast rights national semifinal matchups. cbs kept national championship game rights.

since 2015, cbs , tbs split coverage of elite eight. since 2016 cbs , tbs alternate coverage of final 4 , national championship game, tbs getting final 2 rounds in even-numbered years, , cbs getting games in odd-numbered years. march madness on demand remain unchanged, although turner allowed develop own service.

the cbs broadcast provides ncaa on $500 million annually, , makes on 90% of ncaa s annual revenue. revenues multibillion-dollar television contract divided among division basketball playing schools , conferences follows:

1/6 of money goes directly schools based on how many sports play (one share each sport starting 14, minimum needed division membership).
1/3 of money goes directly schools based on how many scholarships give out (one share each of first 50, 2 each of next 50, ten each of next 50, , 20 each scholarship above 150).
1/2 of money goes conferences based on how did in 6 previous men s basketball tournaments (counting each year separately, 1 share each team getting in, , 1 share each win except in final 4 and, prior 2008 tournament, play-in game). in 2007, based on 2001 through 2006 tournaments, big east received on $14.85 million, while 8 conferences did not win first-round game in 6 years received more $1 million each. conferences distribute of revenue evenly member institutions, regardless of performance.

the division men s basketball tournament ncaa championship tournament ncaa not keep profits.

history of television coverage

cbs has been major partner of ncaa in televising tournament since 1982, there have been many changes in coverage since tournament first broadcast in 1969.

early broadcast coverage

from 1969 1981, ncaa tournament aired on nbc, not games televised. rounds, in particular, not seen on tv.

in 1982, cbs obtained broadcast television rights ncaa tournament.

espn & cbs share coverage

the same year cbs obtained rights big dance, espn began showing opening rounds of tournament. network s first contract signed ncaa major sport, , helped establish espn s following among college basketball fans. espn showed 6 first-round games on thursday , again on friday, cbs picking seventh game @ 11:30 pm et. thus, 14 of 32 first-round games televised. espn re-ran games overnight. @ time, there 1 espn network, no ability split signal regionally, espn showed competitive games. during 1980s, tournament s popularity on television soared.

cbs takes over

however, espn became victim of own success, cbs awarded rights cover games of ncaa tournament, starting in 1991. introduction of so-called play-in game (between 64 seed , 65 seed) in 2000s, did espn in game (and actually, first time play-in game played in 2001, game aired on tnn, using cbs graphics , announcers. cbs , tnn both owned viacom @ time).

through 2010, cbs broadcast remaining 63 games of ncaa tournament proper. areas saw 8 of 32 first-round games, 7 of 16 second-round games, , 4 of 8 regional semifinal games (out of possible 56 games during these rounds; there exceptions rule in 2000s). coverage preempted regular programming on network, except during 2-hour window 5 et until 7 et when local affiliates show programming. cbs format resulted in far fewer hours of first-round coverage under old espn format allowed games reach larger audience espn able reach.

during period of near-exclusivity cbs, network provided local affiliates 3 types of feeds each venue: constant feed, swing feed, , flex feed. constant feeds remained on given game, , used stations clear local interest in particular game. despite name, constant feed veered away other games brief updates (as typical in american sports coverage), coverage remained initial game. swing feed tended stay on games believed of natural interest locality, such teams local conferences, may leave game go other games during progress become close matches. on flex feed, coverage bounced around 1 venue another, depending on action @ various games in progress. if 1 game blowout, coverage switch more competitive game. flex feed provided when there no games significant natural local interest stations carrying them, allowed flex game best game in progress. station feeds planned in advance , stations had option of requesting either constant or flex feed various games.

viewing options emerge

in 1999, directv began broadcasting games otherwise not shown on local television mega march madness premium package. directv system used subscriber s zip code black out games seen on broadcast television. prior that, games available on c-band satellite , picked sports bars.

in 2003, cbs struck deal yahoo! offer live streaming of first 3 rounds of games under yahoo! platinum service, $16.95 month. in 2004, cbs began selling viewers access march madness on demand, provided games not otherwise shown on broadcast television; service free aol subscribers. in 2006, march madness on demand made free, , continued online users through 2011 tournament. 2012, once again became pay service, single payment of $3.99 providing access 67 tournament games. in 2013, service, renamed march madness live, again made free, uses turner s rights , infrastructure tv everywhere, requires sign-in though password of customer s cable or satellite provider watch games, both via pc/mac , mobile devices. not have cable or satellite service or 1 not participating in turner s tv everywhere restricted games carried on cbs national feed, national semifinals , final (regardless of broadcaster), , 3 hours (originally four) of other games without sign-in, or coverage via westwood 1 s radio coverage.

in addition, cbs sports network (formerly cbs college sports network) had broadcast 2 late games not otherwise broadcast nationally. these second games in daytime session in pacific time zone, avoid starting games before 10 am. these games available via march madness live , on cbs affiliates in market areas of team playing. in other markets, newscasts, local programming or preempted cbs morning programming aired. cbssn scheduled continue broadcasting official pregame , postgame shows , press conferences teams involved, along overnight replays.

hdtv coverage

the final 4 has been broadcast in hdtv since 1999. 2000 2004, 1 first/second round site , 1 regional site designated hdtv sites. in 2005, regional games broadcast in hdtv, , 4 first , second round sites designated hdtv coverage. local stations broadcasting in both digital , analog had option of airing separate games on hd , sd channels, take advantage of available high definition coverage. beginning in 2007, games in tournament (including first , second-round games) available in high definition, , local stations required air same game on both analog , digital channels. however, due satellite limitations, first round constant feeds available in standard definition. moreover, digital television stations, such wral-tv in raleigh, north carolina, choose not participate in hdtv broadcasts of first , second rounds , regional semifinals, , used available bandwidth split signal digital subchannels show games going on simultaneously. 2008, upgrades @ cbs broadcast center allowed feeds, flex , constant, in hd tournament.

international broadcasts

as of 2011, espn international holds international broadcast rights tournament, distributing coverage co-owned networks , other broadcasters. espn produces world feed broadcasts of final 4 , championship game, produced using espn college basketball staff , commentators.