And now, Charles Barkley on the NCAA tournament's broadcasting history: 'We all take it for granted now but the tournament used to suck [on TV],' said Barkley. 'This thing we have now is great for the game, to be able to watch each game when you want to watch. I remember when they would show a game in your area. It used to be: Why the hell do we gotta watch Duke play? I lived in Alabama and I didn't want to watch Duke or North Carolina play. Back then that really sucked.'
This is year three of the CBS/Turner 14-year partnership to broadcast the NCAA men's basketball tournament and the marriage has been successful for everyone, especially viewers. The tournament airs over four networks (CBS, TNT, TBS and truTV) and offers viewers the power to be sports television programmers. The networks have also held up their pledge to alert viewers when a better game exists away from the one they are watching.
Last year's tournament averaged 9.6 million viewers, down six percent in viewership from the previous year (10.2 million) but up from 2010 coverage. The championship game proved a ratings highlight: Kentucky's victory over Kansas was seen by an average of 20.9 million viewers, an increase of four percent over the previous year.
CBS/Turner has wisely kept the changes to a minimum this year. Here is a primer on viewing this year's NCAA tournament:
When does the basketball start?
The tournament tips off.