CBS SPORTS TO BROADCAST 27th CONSECUTIVE NCAA DIVISION I MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINNING WITH FIRST-ROUND ACTION ON THURSDAY, MARCH 20
Tournament Schedule and Broadcast Pairings Announced
"March Madness�" returns to the CBS Television Network when CBS Sports broadcasts the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship for the 27th consecutive year. Exclusive live, network coverage begins on Thursday, March 20 and concludes on Monday, April 7 with the National Championship game from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
THE ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR, the Network's studio show, tips off CBS's coverage of first- round games on Thursday, March 20 and Friday, March 21 (12:00 Noon-5:00 PM, ET and 7:00 PM-12:00 AM, ET, both days/nights) and is hosted by Greg Gumbel, Clark Kellogg and Seth Davis from the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City. Lesley Visser, Tracy Wolfson and Sam Ryan serve as reporters for THE ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR throughout CBS Sports' coverage of the tournament.
CBS Sports broadcasts the one-hour NCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SELECTION SHOW on Sunday, March 16 (6:00-7:00 PM, ET), during which the exclusive, live, first-time announcement of the pairings for the NCAA Tournament are made. The show originates from the CBS Broadcast Center in New York, hosted by Gumbel, along with Kellogg and Davis. Jim Nantz and Billy Packer will be live from Indianapolis, Ind.
Following is the CBS Sports roster of announce teams for first and second-round action, led by Nantz, covering his 23rd Final Four, and Emmy Award-winning analyst Packer, covering his 34th consecutive Final Four and Championship game. This marks the 18th consecutive year the duo will call college basketball's premier event.
Play-By-Play/Analyst
Jim Nantz/Billy Packer
Dick Enberg/Carter Blackburn/Jay Bilas
Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery
Gus Johnson/Len Elmore
Kevin Harlan/Dan Bonner
Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel
Craig Bolerjack/Bob Wenzel
Tim Brando/Mike Gminski
Bob Dekas is coordinating producer of CBS Sports' NCAA basketball coverage, and Bob Fishman is the lead director. Eric Mann is Senior Producer. Mann, David Winner and Vin DeVito produce THE ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR studio coverage. Bob Matina directs.
Tony Petitti is Executive Vice President and Executive Producer, CBS Sports.
The complete broadcast schedule follows.
CBS SPORTS 2008 NCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP BROADCAST SCHEDULE
Date Time (ET) Game(s) and Specials Coverage
Thurs., March 20
12:00 Noon-5:00 PM FIRST ROUND DOUBLEHEADER Regional
Washington, D.C. Omaha, Neb. Denver, Colo. Anaheim, Calif.
7:00 PM-12:00 AM FIRST ROUND DOUBLEHEADER Regional
(same sites as above listing)
Fri., March 21
12:00 Noon-5:00 PM FIRST ROUND DOUBLEHEADER Regional Raleigh, N.C. Tampa, Fla. Birmingham, Ala. Little Rock, Ark.
7:00 PM-12:00 AM FIRST ROUND DOUBLEHEADER Regional
(same sites as above listing)
Sat., March 22
1:00-2:00 PM THE ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR National
2:00-11:00 PM SECOND ROUND QUADRUPLEHEADER Regional
Washington, D.C.
Omaha, Neb.
Denver, Colo.
Anaheim, Calif.
Sun., March 23
12:00 Noon-7:00 PM SECOND ROUND TRIPLEHEADER Regional
Raleigh, N.C.
Tampa, Fla.
Birmingham, Ala.
Little Rock, Ark.
Thurs., March 27
7:00 PM-12:00 AM REGIONAL SEMIFINAL DOUBLEHEADER
Charlotte, N.C. Regional
Phoenix, Ariz.
Fri., March 28
7:00 PM-12:00 AM REGIONAL SEMIFINAL DOUBLEHEADER Regional
Detroit, Mich.
Houston, Texas
Sat., March 29
2:30-5:00 PM MEN'S DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP National
Mass Mutual Center
Springfield, Mass.
5:00-6:30 PM THE ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR National
6:30-11:00 PM REGIONAL FINAL DOUBLEHEADER National
Charlotte, N.C.
Phoenix, Ariz.
Sun., March 30
2:00-7:00 PM REGIONAL FINAL DOUBLEHEADER National
Detroit, Mich.
Houston, Texas
Sat., April 5
3:30-4:00 PM THE ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR National
"Outside the Games"
4:00-6:00 PM THE FINAL FOUR SHOW National
6:00-11:00 PM NCAA MEN'S FINAL FOUR National
Alamodome
San Antonio, Texas
Mon., April 7
9:00-11:30 PM PRELUDE TO A CHAMPIONSHIP National
NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP National Alamodome
San Antonio, Texas
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