The announcement that CBS/Turner has locked up the NCAA Basketball tournament for the next 14 years officially ended the era of major championship events exclusively on over-the-air TV.

March Madness now joins the NFL, the BCS, the NBA, and Major League Baseball as sports organizations who have shifted at least some of their championship events to cable TV.

CBS and Turner Broadcasting are paying $10.8 Billion from 2011 to 2024 to carry the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The deal ends CBS’ regional coverage of the early games, and assures that each and every contest will be seen nationally on one of four networks.

Here are the basics:

Under the new deal the NCAA will get $770 million a yea...

Read Complete Article at Bleacher Report - College Basketball
Article is property of BleacherReport.com