NCAA March Madness (TV program)

NCAA March Madness is the special way TV shows the big college basketball tournament in the United States. It is made by two big TV companies: CBS Sports and TNT Sports. They work together to show all the games on different channels like CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV. You can also watch online using Paramount+ or HBO Max.

At first, CBS showed most of the games, while the other channels showed the early parts of the tournament. But since 2016, the very last games, called the Final Four and the championship, switch between CBS and TBS each year. Sometimes TBS shows these big games, and sometimes CBS does.

This special coverage is different from what you see during the regular basketball season. For the March Madness games, all the channels use a special theme music that has been popular since 1992. This music was made by a composer named Bob Christianson.

Background and coverage breakdown

On April 22, 2010, the National Collegiate Athletic Association made a big agreement with CBS and Turner Broadcasting. This deal was worth $10.8 billion and lasted 14 years. It gave them the rights to show the Division I men's college basketball tournament on television. Before this, there was talk that ESPN might get the rights instead.

This new agreement started in 2011 and runs through 2032. It means all tournament games can be watched nationwide. The first few games, called the First Four, are shown on truTV. During the first and second rounds, one important game in each time slot is on CBS, while the others are on TBS, TNT, or truTV. The Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games are shared between CBS and TBS. For the Final Four and championship game, the rights switch between Turner and CBS each year. Since 2016, the championship game has not always been on regular broadcast TV.

The games are shown at different times so that fewer games are happening at once, which helps viewers watch more comfortably. Because of this deal, a pay-per-view service called Mega March Madness stopped. Viewers can still watch games online through March Madness Live, which changed its name from March Madness On Demand. In 2018, a new feature called Fast Break was added, showing quick highlights from many games at once.

Coverage starts with The Selection Show, where the teams in the tournament are announced. During the tournament, truTV shows pre-game shows, and TBS and truTV show post-game shows. CBS also covers other college basketball games like the Reese's College All-Star Game and the Division II championship as part of the March Madness package.

In 2016, the selection show was made longer but was later shortened because viewers wanted it to be faster. In 2018, the show moved to TBS with a studio audience but was changed again the next year.

The 2020 tournament was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, Max started streaming non-CBS tournament games under its B/R Sports label. TruTV also began showing games from TBS starting from the second round.

Team Streams

In 2014, truTV and TNT started special coverage called Teamcast for the Final Four. These shows had commentators from the schools playing in each game. However, many local radio announcers could not join because they had other commitments. Instead, they used commentators from regional networks or outlets connected to the teams. The Team Stream feature returned in 2015 and was also used for the National Championship game in 2016. After the 2020 tournament was cancelled, the Team Stream broadcasts stopped. Since 2022, truTV and TNT have shown the Final Four using the same feed as TBS.

Other college basketball coverage from TNT Sports

Further information: College Basketball on TNT Sports

International coverage

The same year the CBS-Turner deal started, ESPN International got the rights to show the tournament outside the United States. Most of the coverage is the same as what is shown in the U.S., but the Final Four and championship game have a special feed made by ESPN's college basketball team. In Mexico, TUDN shows the games, and CBS and Turner offer Spanish commentary in the United States.

Commentary

Main article: List of NCAA March Madness commentary crews for CBS/TNT Sports

CBS and TNT work together to show the NCAA March Madness tournament. CBS has some announcers, and TNT has a few more. They also share experts who help explain the games. Reporters from both stations give news from the sidelines.

The studio shows are in New York City and Atlanta. Hosts and experts from both stations share ideas and talk about the games. Some well-known voices have worked before, and the teams change a little each year to give the best coverage.

Graphics

2011–2015

In the first five years, all games used graphics from Turner Sports, like they do for basketball games. Games on CBS added the CBS logo to these graphics, even for big games like the Final Four and the National Championship.

2016–2019

In 2016, CBS started using their own graphics for all games. Even the Final Four and National Championship games on TBS used CBS's graphics. The scoreboards looked a bit different, with the network logo in the middle. For games on TBS, TNT, and truTV, the network logo replaced the CBS logo.

These special scoreboards had shadows and would light up in the team's colors after a basket. Other sports shows on TNT and TBS also used these graphics.

In 2018, the March Madness logo was updated, but the in-game graphics stayed the same.

2021–present

After CBS changed its branding in 2021, they introduced new graphics for the tournament. The logo from 2018 stayed the same, but the graphics changed.

The new scoreboards look like what CBS uses in the regular season, with logos for CBS, TBS, TNT, and truTV on the left side. There's also a part showing which round and region each game is in.

Starting in 2025, the way time and slots are shown on the scoreboards changed. The usual NCAA logo was replaced with the March Madness logo from 2016, and the lines for each slot are now blue instead of white. The overall layout with logos on the left stayed the same.

Theme music

All four networks use a special version of the CBS College Basketball Theme during the tournament. This theme was arranged by Trevor Rabin.

Since 1987, the coverage of March Madness always ends with "One Shining Moment", currently performed by Luther Vandross.

Different songs are used for special moments during the tournament each year. For example, in 2017, they used "Something Just Like This" by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay. In 2019, The Black Keys returned with their song Lo/Hi. Each year brings new music to make the tournament exciting.