ESPN Interested In Bidding For Rights To NCAA's March Madness
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CBS' March Madness Contract Runs
Through '13, But NCAA Could Opt Out In '10 |
ESPN Senior VP/College Sports Programming Burke Magnus said that if the NCAA "opts out early next year" from its 11-year, $6B contract with CBS for the men's basketball tournament, ESPN "would be interested in bidding for the rights to March Madness," according to Michael McCarthy of USA TODAY. CBS' contract runs through '13, but the NCAA has the "right to opt out by July 31, 2010." Magnus: "If it were to become available, and fit the definition of a business decision for us, I'm quite certain we'd be interested." CBS Sports Exec VP/Programming Mike Aresco did not comment on whether the NCAA might utilize the opt-out clause, but said, "We have a great relationship with the NCAA. We expect to be in business with the tournament for a long time." McCarthy notes ESPN annually carries the tournament's play-in game on Tuesday night, and the net in the '80s "carried some early round men's games." McCarthy notes ESPN "already has the NCAA women's basketball tournament, is taking over the Bowl Championship Series games next year and has said it would be interested in the Olympics" (USATODAY.com, 11/5).
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