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Michael Smith

Michael Smith

The leading reporter covering the dynamic business of college sports, Michael Smith joined Sports Business Journal in 2006 after having spent 18 years with daily newspapers, most recently covering the University of Kentucky basketball program for the Louisville Courier-Journal. His résumé also includes stints covering the University of South Carolina and the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets. BEATS: college sports, high school sports

TBS poised to get Final Four two years early

TBS appears likely to carry the Final Four and two Elite Eight games next year, two years earlier than planned, thanks to an option in the agreement that CBS and Turner signed when they jointly acquired the NCAA’s media rights more than two years ago. When the two...

New world greets IMG-Big East talks

IMG College’s multimedia rights with the old Big East Conference expire in June, sending both sides to the negotiating table for a new contract that’s expected to look significantly different. Among the points being negotiated are marketing rights to a conference football championship game, something the Big East...

NCAA Tournament turning points

Dome for a home The NCAA had experimented with playing the Final Four in a dome. The 1971 championships were held in the Astrodome and the 1982 Final Four was played in the Superdome. But in the 1990s, with the tournament growing...

What's in store for the tournament's future?

Courtside signage For as long as the NCAA has had a corporate sponsorship program, only two brands have been visible at courtside during the tournament — the NCAA and whichever brand Coca-Cola has promoted. At one time it was Dasani water, and recently it’s...