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Jim Williams

Your Complete Guide To Watching March Madness On CBS And The WDN Sports

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 01: Former NBA player and TNT commentator Charles Barkley is interviewed during a practice session for the 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four at NRG Stadium on April 1, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

It is that time of the year when basketball fans and non-sports fans come together to fill out the brackets for the Men’s and Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournaments better known as “March Madness. 68 colleges will battle it out for a chance to be crowned as champions in three weeks when the trophy is presented in Houston.

CBS and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports (The Former Turner Networks) are all ready to cover every aspect of the men’s tournament while ESPN will be the home to all the women’s basketball action. As per usual the games will air on CBS, TNT, TBS and TruTV with staggered start times, so fans can watch about 12 hours a day for Thursday and Friday.

A detail view of the CBS and March Madness logos displayed on a microphone during the NCAA Division I Men’s Championship Second Round basketball game between the Butler Bulldogs and the Purdue Boilermakers on March 18, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Purdue defeated Butler 76-73.  Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.

For those who choose to stream the games the best value is the combination of Sling TV and Paramount +. It will require a one-month subscription to both services. 

A new study reveals American businesses lose $13.8 billion each year because employees are less productive during March Madness. According to the WalletHub study, the average worker spends six hours watching the tournament each year.

According to a survey released this weekend, over $15 billion is expected to be bet on March Madness in 2023, which is up from $3.1 billion a year ago. One major factor is the expansion of legalized sports betting.

Earlier this year CBS announced that Jim Nantz will step away from his college basketball broadcasting role after calling his 32nd Final Four. Nantz will remain with CBS for coverage of golf and the NFL, but he will be handing off his college basketball role to Ian Eagle, who will be the Final Four play-by-play voice starting in 2024.

Greg Gumbel will host studio coverage from the CBS Broadcast Center in New York, joined by Charles Barkley, Clark Kellogg and Kenny Smith as well as Wally Szczerbiak. Ernie Johnson will host studio coverage from WBD Studios in Atlanta alongside Jay Wright, Candace Parker and Seth Davis. Additionally, Adam Zucker and Adam Lefkoe will also serve as hosts from New York and Atlanta, respectively. 

HOUSTON, TEXAS – APRIL 01: Former NBA player and TNT commentator Charles Barkley is interviewed during a practice session for the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four at NRG Stadium on April 1, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

2023 NCAA Tournament schedule, dates First Four

Tuesday, March 14
UD Arena, Dayton

TIME (ET)

GAME

TV / STREAM

6:40 p.m.

(16) SE Missouri State vs. (16) Texas A&M-CC
Tom McCarthy / Avery Johnson // Jon Rothstein

truTV (watch live)
 

9:10 p.m.

(11) Pittsburgh vs. (11) Mississippi State
Tom McCarthy / Avery Johnson // Jon Rothstein
 

truTV (watch live)
 

Wednesday, March 15
UD Arena, Dayton

TIME (ET)

GAME

TV / STREAM

6:40 p.m.

(16) Fairleigh DIckinson vs. (16) Texas Southern
Tom McCarthy / Avery Johnson // Jon Rothstein

truTV (watch live)
 

9:10 p.m.

(11) Nevada vs. (11) Arizona State
Tom McCarthy / Avery Johnson // Jon Rothstein
 

truTV (watch live)

 

First round

Thursday, March 16
Legacy Arena — Birmingham | Wells Fargo Arena — Des Moines | Amway Center — Orlando | Golden 1 Center — Sacramento

TIME (ET)

GAME

TV / STREAM

12:15 p.m.

(9) Maryland vs. (8) West Virginia
Jim Nantz / Bill Raftery / Grant Hill // Tracy Wolfson
 

CBS (watch live)
 

12:40 p.m.

(13) Furman vs. (4) Virginia
Kevin Harlan / Dan Bonner / Stan Van Gundy // Lauren Shehadi
 

truTV (watch live)
 

1:40 p.m.

(10) Utah State vs. (7) Missouri
Brad Nessler / Brendan Haywood // Dana Jacobson
 

TNT (watch live)

 

2 p.m.

(16) Howard vs. (1) Kansas
Brian Anderson / Jim Jackson // Allie LaForce
 

TBS (watch live)
 

2:45 p.m.

(16) Play-in vs. (1) Alabama
Jim Nantz / Bill Raftery / Grant Hill // Tracy Wolfson
 

CBS (watch live)
 

3:10 p.m.

(12) College of Charleston vs. (5) San Diego State
Kevin Harlan / Dan Bonner / Stan Van Gundy // Lauren Shehadi
 

CBS (watch live)
 

4:10 p.m.

(15) Princeton vs. (2) Arizona
Brad Nessler / Brendan Haywood // Dana Jacobson
 

TNT (watch live)
 

4:30 p.m.

(9) Illinois vs. (8) Arkansas
Brian Anderson / Jim Jackson // Allie LaForce
 

TBS (watch live)

 

 

6:50 p.m.

(9) Auburn vs. (8) Iowa
Jim Nantz / Bill Raftery / Grant Hill // Tracy Wolfson
 

TNT (watch live)
 

7:10 p.m.

(12) Oral Roberts vs. (5) Duke
Kevin Harlan / Dan Bonner / Stan Van Gundy // Lauren Shehadi
 

CBS (watch live)
 

7:25 p.m.

(15) Colgate vs. (2) Texas
Brian Anderson / Jim Jackson // Allie LaForce
 

TBS (watch live)
 

7:35 p.m.

(10) Boise State vs. (7) Northwestern
Brad Nessler / Brendan Haywood // Dana Jacobson
 

truTV (watch live)
 

9:20 p.m.

(16) Northern Kentucky vs. (1) Houston
Jim Nantz / Bill Raftery / Grant Hill // Tracy Wolfson
 

TNT (watch live)
 

9:40 p.m.

(13) Lousiana vs. (4) Tennessee
Kevin Harlan / Dan Bonner / Stan Van Gundy // Lauren Shehadi
 

CBS (watch live)

 

9:55 p.m.

(10) Penn State vs. (7) Texas A&M
Brian Anderson / Jim Jackson // Allie LaForce
 

TBS (watch live)
 

10:05 p.m.

(15) UNC Asheville vs. (2) UCLA
Brad Nessler / Brendan Haywood // Dana Jacobson
 

truTV (watch live)

 

2023 NCAA Tournament schedule, datesFirst Four

Tuesday, March 14
UD Arena, Dayton

TIME (ET)

GAME

TV / STREAM

6:40 p.m.

(16) SE Missouri State vs. (16) Texas A&M-CC
Tom McCarthy / Avery Johnson // Jon Rothstein

truTV (watch live)
 

9:10 p.m.

(11) Pittsburgh vs. (11) Mississippi State
Tom McCarthy / Avery Johnson // Jon Rothstein
 

truTV (watch live)
 

Wednesday, March 15
UD Arena, Dayton

TIME (ET)

GAME

TV / STREAM

6:40 p.m.

(16) Fairleigh DIckinson vs. (16) Texas Southern
Tom McCarthy / Avery Johnson // Jon Rothstein

truTV (watch live)
 

9:10 p.m.

(11) Nevada vs. (11) Arizona State
Tom McCarthy / Avery Johnson // Jon Rothstein
 

truTV (watch live)
 

First round

Thursday, March 16
Legacy Arena — Birmingham | Wells Fargo Arena — Des Moines | Amway Center — Orlando | Golden 1 Center — Sacramento

TIME (ET)

GAME

TV / STREAM

12:15 p.m.

(9) Maryland vs. (8) West Virginia
Jim Nantz / Bill Raftery / Grant Hill // Tracy Wolfson
 

CBS (watch live)
 

12:40 p.m.

(13) Furman vs. (4) Virginia
Kevin Harlan / Dan Bonner / Stan Van Gundy // Lauren Shehadi
 

truTV (watch live)
 

1:40 p.m.

(10) Utah State vs. (7) Missouri
Brad Nessler / Brendan Haywood // Dana Jacobson
 

TNT (watch live)
 

2 p.m.

(16) Howard vs. (1) Kansas
Brian Anderson / Jim Jackson // Allie LaForce
 

TBS (watch live)
 

2:45 p.m.

(16) Play-in vs. (1) Alabama
Jim Nantz / Bill Raftery / Grant Hill // Tracy Wolfson
 

CBS (watch live)
 

3:10 p.m.

(12) College of Charleston vs. (5) San Diego State
Kevin Harlan / Dan Bonner / Stan Van Gundy // Lauren Shehadi
 

CBS (watch live)
 

4:10 p.m.

(15) Princeton vs. (2) Arizona
Brad Nessler / Brendan Haywood // Dana Jacobson
 

TNT (watch live)
 

4:30 p.m.

(9) Illinois vs. (8) Arkansas
Brian Anderson / Jim Jackson // Allie LaForce
 

TBS (watch live)
 

6:50 p.m.

(9) Auburn vs. (8) Iowa
Jim Nantz / Bill Raftery / Grant Hill // Tracy Wolfson
 

TNT (watch live)
 

7:10 p.m.

(12) Oral Roberts vs. (5) Duke
Kevin Harlan / Dan Bonner / Stan Van Gundy // Lauren Shehadi
 

CBS (watch live)
 

7:25 p.m.

(15) Colgate vs. (2) Texas
Brian Anderson / Jim Jackson // Allie LaForce
 

TBS (watch live)
 

7:35 p.m.

(10) Boise State vs. (7) Northwestern
Brad Nessler / Brendan Haywood // Dana Jacobson
 

truTV (watch live)
 

9:20 p.m.

(16) Northern Kentucky vs. (1) Houston
Jim Nantz / Bill Raftery / Grant Hill // Tracy Wolfson
 

TNT (watch live)
 

9:40 p.m.

(13) Lousiana vs. (4) Tennessee
Kevin Harlan / Dan Bonner / Stan Van Gundy // Lauren Shehadi
 

CBS (watch live)
 

9:55 p.m.

(10) Penn State vs. (7) Texas A&M
Brian Anderson / Jim Jackson // Allie LaForce
 

TBS (watch live)
 

10:05 p.m.

(15) UNC Asheville vs. (2) UCLA
Brad Nessler / Brendan Haywood // Dana Jacobson
 

truTV (watch live)
 

TIME (ET)

GAME

TV / STREAM

12:15 p.m.

(10) USC vs. (7) Michigan State
Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Jamie Erdahl
 

CBS (watch live)
 

12:40 p.m.

(14) Kennesaw State vs. (3) Xavier
Ian Eagle / Jim Spanarkel // Evan Washburn
 

truTV (watch live)
 

1:30 p.m.

(14) UC Stanta Barbara vs. (3) Baylor
Lisa Byington / Steve Smith / Avery Johnson // Andy Katz
 

TNT (watch live)
 

2 p.m.

(12) VCU vs. (5) Saint Mary’s
Spero Dedes / Deb Antonelli // AJ Ross
 

TBS (watch live)
 

2:45 p.m.

(15) Vermont vs. (2) Marquette
Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Jamie Erdahl
 

CBS (watch live)
 

3:10 p.m.

(11) Play-in vs. (6) Iowa State
Ian Eagle / Jim Spanarkel // Evan Washburn
 

truTV (watch live)
 

4 p.m.

(11) NC State vs. (6) Creighton
Lisa Byington / Steve Smith / Avery Johnson // Andy Katz
 

TNT (watch live)
 

4:30 p.m.

(13) Iona vs. (4) UConn
Spero Dedes / Deb Antonelli // AJ Ross
 

TBS (watch live)
 

6:50 p.m.

(16) Play-in vs. (1) Purdue
Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Jamie Erdahl
 

TNT (watch live)
 

7:10 p.m.

(11) Providence vs. (6) Kentucky
Ian Eagle / Jim Spanarkel // Evan Washburn
 

CBS (watch live)
 

7:25 p.m.

(12) Drake vs. (5) Miami
Spero Dedes / Deb Antonelli // AJ Ross
 

TBS (watch live)
 

7:35 p.m.

(14) Grand Canyon vs. (3) Gonzaga
Lisa Byington / Steve Smith / Avery Johnson // Andy Katz
 

truTV (watch live)
 

9:20 p.m.

(9) FAU vs. (8) Memphis
Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Jamie Erdahl
 

TNT (watch live)
 

9:40 p.m.

(14) Montana State vs. (3) Kansas State
Ian Eagle / Jim Spanarkel // Evan Washburn
 

CBS (watch live)
 

9:55 p.m.

(13) Kent State vs. (4) Indiana
Spero Dedes / Deb Antonelli // AJ Ross
 

TBS (watch live)
 

10:05 p.m.

(11) Play-in vs. (6) TCU
Lisa Byington / Steve Smith / Avery Johnson // Andy Katz
 

truTV (watch live)

 

 

Final Four

Saturday, April 1 — 6:09 p.m. start (CBS)
NRG Stadium — Houston

National Championship

Monday, April 3 — 9:20 p.m. (CBS)
NRG Stadium — Houston

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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