March Madness Television Schedule

Dec 31 2011

The most significant change to the NCAA Tournament this season -- you'll be able to see more of it. The only way to see the games you wanted in their entirety was to purchase a special package from a cable or satellite operator; without it, you were at the mercy of CBS, reduced to hoping they'd break away from the Duke game to show the end of your alma mater's nail-biter.

No more.

Starting this season, NCAA Tournament games will be broadcast by four different networks - CBS, TBS, TNT and TruTV - and game times will be staggered to allow viewers to catch more of the action.

Here's a look at how the new schedule will stack up. Actual matchups will be released on March 13.

(All times Eastern)

First Four

The new "first four" games will be broadcast on TruTV on March 15 and 16, with games at 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM both nights.

Second Round

The second round - which is what the NCAA is calling the "Round of 64" these days - is when fans will really start to see the benefit of the new television schedule - all four networks will be running a solid block of games from noon to midnight on March 17 and 18. Start times will break down as follows:

• CBS: 12:00 PM, 2:30 PM, 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM
• TNT: 2:00 PM, 4:30 PM, 7:15 PM and 9:45 PM
• TBS: 1:30 PM, 4:00 PM, 6:45 PM and 9:15 PM
• TruTV: 12:30 PM, 3:00 PM, 7:15 PM and 9:55 PM

TruTV will also broadcast the official tip-off show at 11 AM and 7 PM, and a wrap-up show at 12:30 AM.

Third Round

The preliminary schedule for the first weekend of March Madness features a CBS quadruple-header on Saturday, March 19.

Saturday Games

• CBS: 12:00 PM, 2:30 PM, 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM
• TNT: 6:00 PM, 8:30 PM
• TBS: 7:00 PM, 9:30 PM

Sunday Games

• CBS: 12:00 PM, 2:30 PM, 5:00 PM
• TNT: 6:00 PM, 8:30 PM
• TBS: 7:00 PM, 9:30 PM
• TruTV: 7:30 PM

Regional Semifinals

The Sweet Sixteen shifts to prime time on CBS and TBS on Thursday, March 24 and Friday, March 25. Preliminary schedule for both nights:

• CBS: 7:00 PM, 9:30 PM
• TBS: 7:15 PM, 9:55 PM

Regional Finals

When we reach the Elite Eight, all games return to CBS. The start times for Saturday, March 26 will be 4:20 PM and 6:55 PM. Sunday's starts will be at 2:10 PM and 4:55 PM.

The Final Four and National Championship Game

The schedule for the final weekend of March Madness will be familiar to fans. A Saturday evening doubleheader on CBS - games at 6 PM and 8:30 PM - and the National Championship Game on Monday, April 4, starting at 9 PM.

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