CBS and Turner are negotiating to allow Turner to show the Final Four as soon as next year as part of an option that is part of their NCAA Tournament deal. Plans have not been finalized, but several sources tell Sports Business Daily that Turner is likely to have the Final Four in ’14, which would place another premier sports championship on cable.
Under terms of the 14-year, $10.8B deal CBS and Turner signed in ’10, Turner was set to begin televising the Final Four in ’16.
Both networks released a statement to Sports Business Daily that said, “As part of the original 14-year deal, there was a provisional option for rotation of the Final Four and National Championship to begin in 2014. There is currently no time timetable for a decision.”
Sources said no money or other assets are changing hands as part of these negotiations. It is not known why the two networks are considering making the move.
See the Sports Business Daily story here
