Watch CBS News

NCAA Tournament Gets Major TV Makeover

NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) — College basketball fans will see a whole lot more of the NCAA tournament on TV this March, including during prime time on the first Sunday night.

RELATED: Best College Basketball Bars In NYC

CBS and Turner Sports, in the first year of a joint 14-year, $10.8 billion deal to broadcast the tournament announced Thursday that fans will get to see all games in their entirety thanks to staggered tip-off times and expanded coverage in the early rounds.

Games will be seen on CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV, allowing organizers to spread out start times in contrast to the regional coverage offered in years past.

CBS executive vice president Mike Aresco told USA Today the plan is to "create nonstop basketball from noon (EST) to midnight."

"One reason to stagger them is to allow viewers to see more games," he said.

The tournament is expanding from 65 to 68 teams this year.

How much of the tourney will you watch? Let us know in the comments below!

(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.