CBS, TNT, TBS and TruTV to combine for NCAAs
TBS' Ernie Johnson shot a guest spot on LeBron James' show "Survivor's Remorse." Credit: Handout
Here's a release from CBS, Turner Sports and TruTV:
CBS Sports and Turner Sports have combined their talent rosters to form an all-star line-up of announcers for coverage of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, it was announced today by David Levy, President of Sales, Distribution and Sports, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. and Sean McManus, President, CBS News and Sports.
The announcers will make appearances across CBS, TNT, TBS and truTV.
The line-up is the latest enhancement to tournament coverage as part of the 14-year agreement between the NCAA, CBS and Turner which will provide live, full national coverage of the championship’s 67 games across multiple platforms for the first time.
The championship tips-off with the NCAA FIRST FOUR on truTV Tuesday, March 15, with Jim Nantz, Clark Kellogg and Steve Kerr calling the action, with Tracy Wolfson courtside. Nantz, Kellogg, Kerr and Wolfson will team up again when the tournament concludes with the Final Four and Championship game on Saturday, April 2 and Monday, April 4 on CBS Sports.
Nantz will be covering his 26th Final Four and National Championship, Kellogg will be working both events for the third time, with Kerr joining to call his first Final Four and National Championship. Gus Johnson and Len Elmore, along with courtside reporter Craig Sager, will handle the call for the FIRST FOUR games on Wednesday, March 16, on truTV.
Two studios, based in New York and Atlanta, will be used to cover all the action. Studio coverage will be anchored by Greg Gumbel and Ernie Johnson, who will share hosting duties during each day.
Charles Barkley, Greg Anthony and Kenny Smith will provide analysis throughout the tournament alongside Gumbel or Johnson from the CBS Broadcast Center in New York. Analysts Reggie Miller and Seth Davis will join the New York studio rotation for the second week of the tournament. Matt Winer will host the studio coverage from Turner’s Atlanta studio with analysts Davis and Steve Smith.
The studio coverage for Tuesday’s FIRST FOUR games will feature Gumbel, Johnson, Barkley, Anthony and Kenny Smith. On Wednesday, Winer, Steve Smith and Davis will be in studio offering analysis.
