The NCAA "quietly is talking" to CBS and Turner Sports about extending their 14-year, $10.8B March Madness contract, "even though the deal runs through" the '24 men's tournament, according to sources cited by Ourand & Smith of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Sources said that discussions "have focused on extending the current deal, which originally took effect" in '11, by "as much as eight more years." These talks, known as contractual "look-ins," are "part of the NCAA’s media contracts with CBS/Turner and separately with ESPN for its other championships." Sources cautioned that the look-in "does not mean an extension or a new contract is imminent." The two sides also are "looking into other deal points, such as new technology advances and marketing rights." CBS and Turner "like the idea of extending the tournament deal early, as it would keep a popular sports media property from hitting the open market until" potentially '32. Sources said that both CBS and Turner are "happy with their partnership around the NCAA tournament and are interested in extending the deal." The NCAA "negotiated two look-ins into the CBS/Turner contract because of the deal’s length." This is the first and another is "scheduled five years from now." A source said, "A lot can change in five years." Ourand & Smith note NCAA officials and CBS/Turner have "been in this current look-in period for about two to three weeks, and there is no hard deadline to make any decisions" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 12/14 issue).
