CBS, Turner Sports To Televise All March Madness Games Nationally
NEW YORK (AP) -- The NCAA tournament's new television deal will allow for more staggered starts of games, so all those buzzer-beaters aren't happening at the same time.
The contract signed in April with CBS and Turner Sports meant all games would be televised live nationally for the first time.
Because Turner's three cable channels don't have the same commitments to the nightly news and other regular programming as CBS, the tournament games will be more spread out starting this season.
That includes prime-time games on TBS, TNT and truTV during the first Sunday.
The networks announced the full schedule Thursday. They signed a 14-year, $10.8 billion deal as the NCAA decided to expand from 65 only to 68 teams, not 96.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
March 17 and 18 Schedules(All Times PST):
9a.m (CBS), 9:30 a.m. (truTV), 10:30 a.m. (TBS) and 11 a.m. (TNT). The second set of games begin at 11:30 a.m. (CBS), noon (truTV), 1 p.m. (TBS) and 1:30 p.m. (TNT).
TBS opens coverage with a 3:45 p.m. tip-off followed by games at 4 p.m. (CBS), 4:15 p.m. (TNT and truTV). The final games of the night begin at 6:15 p.m. (TBS), 6:30 p.m. (CBS), 6:45 p.m. (TNT), and 6:55 p.m. (truTV).
