NCAA Tournament Radio Broadcast: A Comprehensive Overview

From nail-biting finishes to Cinderella stories, the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament, more commonly known as March Madness, captivates audiences nationwide. While television broadcasts have become synonymous with the tournament, radio broadcasts offer a unique and engaging way to follow the action. This article delves into the world of NCAA Tournament radio broadcasts, exploring its history, key players, and the comprehensive coverage it provides.

Westwood One: The Official Voice of March Madness

Westwood One stands as the official radio home for NCAA Basketball, providing extensive coverage from the regular season through Conference Championship Week and culminating in March Madness. Since 1982, Westwood One has broadcast every NCAA Men’s Tournament, becoming a staple for fans seeking to follow the games on the go.

Comprehensive Programming

Westwood One offers a variety of programs to enhance the listening experience:

NCAA March Madness Tip-Off: A special 3-hour program that captures the anticipation and excitement leading up to the tournament.
NCAA March Madness Pre-Game Show: A 1-hour show airing before each game, providing analysis and insights.
NCAA March Madness Venue Report: Airing ten times during March Madness, this program sets the scene from each venue with interviews and analysis.
NCAA Basketball: Defining Moments: A 36-part historical feature series that airs during both the Men’s and Women’s tournaments.

The Varsity Network App

For convenient access to live audio streams of Westwood One’s coverage, fans can utilize The Varsity Network app. This app, created by LEARFIELD company SIDEARM Sports, offers free gameday audio streams and push notifications to remind users of upcoming broadcasts.

A Look Back at Television Broadcast History

While radio provides a consistent audio companion, the television broadcast landscape of the NCAA Tournament has evolved significantly over the years.

Early Years and Network Shifts

Prior to 1969, the NCAA Championship was not broadcast on live network television. In contrast, the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) had been a staple on CBS for many years in the 1960s and well into the 1970s.

From 1969 to 1972, both the Consolation (3rd place) Game and the Championship Game were televised on Saturday afternoon as a doubleheader. In 1969 and 1970, Curt Gowdy and Jim Simpson alternated roles for the telecast; Gowdy called the title game, while Simpson covered the "consy." By 1973, the final was moved to Monday night, and the consolation game was no longer televised.

A significant moment occurred in 1963 when SNI covered the NCAA final from Louisville, where Loyola of Chicago upset Cincinnati. This broadcast even surpassed popular shows like Have Gun, Will Travel and Gunsmoke in the ratings.

CBS and Turner Broadcasting: A Long-Term Partnership

Since 2010, the NCAA has maintained a joint contract with CBS and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), ensuring nationwide broadcast of all tournament games each year. This contract, which runs through 2032, involves sharing broadcasters from CBS, TBS, and TNT. CBS' college basketball teams are supplemented with TNT's NBA teams, and studio segments originate from the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City and TNT's studios in Atlanta.

Studio Personalities and Announcer Teams

The New York-based studio shows feature CBS' Adam Zucker and Clark Kellogg, alongside Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley from TNT's Inside the NBA. Seth Davis and Jay Wright of CBS also contribute. TNT lends analysts Stan Van Gundy, Jim Jackson, Grant Hill, and Steve Smith, as well as play-by-play announcer Brian Anderson and reporters Allie LaForce and Lauren Shehadi. In return, CBS announcers Brad Nessler, Andrew Catalon, and Tom McCarthy appear on WBD network broadcasts with analysts Jim Spanarkel, Bill Raftery, Dan Bonner, Steve Lappas, and Brendan Haywood, along with reporters Tracy Wolfson, Evan Washburn, A. J. Ross, and Jon Rothstein. Gene Steratore serves as the rules analyst.

Read also: Crafting Your NCAA Profile

Game Coverage Breakdown

All First Four games are broadcast on truTV. During the first and second rounds, a featured game in each time "window" airs on CBS, with the remaining games on TBS, TNT, or truTV. The Sweet Sixteen games are split between CBS and TBS.

CBS held exclusive rights to the Elite Eight games through 2014. Since 2015, CBS and TBS have split coverage. Since 2016, CBS and TBS alternate coverage of the Final Four and national championship game, with TBS broadcasting these rounds in even-numbered years and CBS in odd-numbered years.

In 2014, Turner introduced "Team Stream" alternate broadcasts during the Final Four, offering team-centric commentary. This concept was extended to the National Championship game in 2016 but was discontinued in 2017.

Potential Shifts and Contract Extensions

In 2008, CBS' studio team did not travel to the Final Four site. Despite CBS' contract extending to 2013, the NCAA had the option to terminate the agreement after the 2010 championship, leading to speculation about ESPN potentially acquiring the rights. However, in April 2010, the NCAA signed a 14-year agreement with CBS and Turner Broadcasting System, solidifying their partnership and ensuring continued coverage.

Radio's Enduring Appeal

While television broadcasts offer visual spectacle, radio broadcasts provide a unique and intimate way to experience March Madness. Westwood One's comprehensive coverage, coupled with the accessibility of The Varsity Network app, ensures that fans can stay connected to the tournament action wherever they are. The voices of the commentators, the roar of the crowd, and the play-by-play descriptions paint a vivid picture for listeners, creating a memorable and engaging experience.

Venues

Venues that have hosted NCAA Tournament games include:

St. Louis Arena (St. Louis, Missouri)
The Checkerdome (St. Louis, Missouri)
Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg, Florida)
Edward Jones Dome (St. Louis, Missouri)

Announcers

Announcers who have covered NCAA Tournament games include:

Matt Park
Jay Feely
Dr. Hubert Davis
Jim Jackson
Bill Walton
Robbie Hummel

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