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College Basketball on NBC Sports

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College Basketball on NBC Sports is the de facto branding used for broadcasts of NCAA Division I men's college basketball games produced by NBC Sports, the sports division of the NBC television network in the United States. The NBC network broadcast college basketball games in some shape or form between 1969 and 1998. From 1969 to 1981,[1] NBC covered the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. It became the first major network to broadcast the championship game, at a cost of more than US$500,000 in 1969.

College Basketball on NBC Sports
NBC's college basketball logo circa 1989.
GenreCollege basketball telecasts
Presented bySee List of College Basketball on NBC personalities
Theme music composerRoger Tallman
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time120 minutes or until end of game
Production companies
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseMarch 8, 1969 (1969-03-08) –
February 28, 1998 (1998-02-28)
ReleaseJanuary 1, 2012 (2012-01-01) –
present (present)

In 2011, Comcast's sports channel Versus became part of NBC Sports after the company's acquisition of NBC Universal, and was relaunched as NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) in 2012. During the 2010s, NBCSN primarily carried coverage of basketball from the Atlantic 10 Conference, Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), and Ivy League.

NBCSN would lose the CAA and Ivy League, but retained its A-10 package. It was renewed in 2021 under a multi-year deal, and moved to USA Network in January 2022 after the shutdown of NBCSN. In August 2022, NBC Sports announced that it had acquired rights to Big Ten basketball as part of a larger agreement with the conference, with a package of games airing on Peacock beginning in the 2023–24 season.

On November 12, 2022, college basketball returned to the main NBC network when the Notre Dame women's college basketball team took on the California women's college basketball team as part of the inaugural Citi Shamrock Classic. It was the first women's college basketball game to ever air on NBC, and the first college basketball game of any kind since 1998.[2] Men's college basketball will return to the main NBC network during the 2024–25 season.

History

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NBC's relationship with college basketball dates as far back as February 28, 1940, when W2XBS (the future flagship station for NBC, WNBC) presented a doubleheader at New York City's Madison Square Garden. The University of Pittsburgh faced off against Fordham University, followed by Georgetown University against New York University.

1969–1976

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For NBC's first year of tournament coverage in 1969, the network aired the consolation game nationally and the national semi-finals on a regional basis (which were held on a Thursday night). 1972 marked the final year that NBC aired the consolation game. The following year marked the first time that the Final Four was held on a Saturday, and was the first prime time championship game[3] to air on NBC.

From 1969 to 1972, Final Four contests were split national telecasts. Because the NCAA Tournament wasn't seeded, but based on geography, the Final Four generally had two eastern and two western teams. NBC, with a prime-time slot, televised the eastern-oriented game in the east, and the western-oriented game in the west. It essentially was a split-national telecast, with the split occurring over the time, not simultaneous games. This inevitably created problems, such as when Louisville played UCLA in the late game in 1972, people in the east didn't see it. And, if the first game went into overtime, NBC couldn't close out the eastern window and open the western window. The western United States would get the end of the early game, but the east would still not get to see the late game. The secondary problem was that the east didn't get to see UCLA in the tournament until the title game.

By 1974, NBC was providing coverage of nine games in seven windows (a far cry from the current tournament coverage). The following year, NBC aired ten games in nine windows – presenting the regional finals as a tripleheader with regional coverage in the middle time slot; this was also the first year that Billy Packer covered the Final Four.

NBC did not start airing regular season games until about 1975–76,[4] when the network partnered with the ad-hoc sports service TVS Television Network. While NBC Sports' on-air talent was used, the production was covered by TVS. By this point, NBC would air regional and national games on Saturdays, and national games (called by Dick Enberg, Al McGuire[5] and Billy Packer[6]) on Sundays. As for the regional telecasts[7] on Saturdays, typically in the Northeast, before the game featuring the Big East or Atlantic 10 conferences, it was the "ECAC Game of the Week".

1977–1981

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For the 1976–77 season, NBC moved the national games to Sundays. NBC added a Saturday game on the last weekend of the season to show undefeated San Francisco take on Notre Dame.

NBC added first round Sunday coverage during the 1977 tournament.

In the 1977–78 season, C.D. Chesley (who controlled the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) rights at the time) wanted NBC to televise select ACC games as part of its national package as it had the previous few years. However, NBC wanted to feature intersectional games. This action greatly upset Chesley, who wound up selling the rights to the ACC Tournament final to ABC. As a result, there was a notable absence of ACC home games in NBC's college basketball schedule for the 1977–78 season. For this season, NBC added Al McGuire to the No. 1 team alongside Dick Enberg and Billy Packer. Early in the season, NBC stationed McGuire in a remote location and went to him only for periodic commentary. Eventually, NBC moved McGuire courtside to form a three-man announcer team. Dick Stockton filled in for Enberg on at least three games.

In 1978, NBC aired all regional finals games nationally for the first time, moving two of the games to Sunday. NBC split up the analysts from its No. 1 announcer team for the first two weekends of the tournament. Al McGuire for the most part, worked with Curt Gowdy while Billy Packer generally worked with Dick Enberg. While Dick Enberg served as the play-by-play announcer for NBC's Final Four coverage in 1978, Curt Gowdy moved over to a hosting role for the Final Four coverage.

NBC's coverage of the 1979 NCAA championship game between Indiana State and Michigan State to this day, remains the highest-rated game (garnering a 24.1 rating) in the history[8] of televised college basketball.

On Super Bowl Sunday 1981, NBC broadcast the Ohio State-Virginia game (with Don Criqui doing play-by-play)at 1:30 pm. ET. In NBC's final year covering the NCAA tournament, 1981,[9] the network introduced a policy of switching from game to game on the fly. Before this, NBC would naturally, stay with the regionally-televised games to their conclusion.

After losing the Division I basketball tournament rights (1982–1989)

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After NBC lost the tournament rights to CBS[10] (which started a separate regular season package) beginning in 1982, they continued with TVS through 1983, wrapping up with the ACC Tournament Final[11] (which NBC had traditionally wrapped up their coverage with, by this point).

After TVS went back to broadcasting separate, regional games beginning in 1983–84,[12] NBC was left to pick up the games[13][14] that CBS did not want (save for the ACC Final) for the rest of the 1980s.

During this period, NBC's promotional slogan for its game broadcasts was "College basketball, it's the stuff Saturdays are made of!"[15][16] Another slogan that NBC used in game promotions was "Sunday come on home to college basketball on NBC!"[17]

On January 27, 1985, Jim Valvano (who was still the NC State coach) called a game between Indiana and Illinois alongside Bob Costas for NBC after coaching a game the previous day.

Decline (1990–1998)

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With CBS and ESPN gaining strength in the 1990s, all NBC could put together was a 4–5 game package featuring a then-mediocre Notre Dame program. By the 1992–93 season, NBC only broadcast two games, both involving Notre Dame (a February 6 contest against Duke, and a February 13 contest against Kentucky). NBC was seeing much more success with its broadcasts of Notre Dame football games than the team's basketball telecasts by this point.

On February 22, 1992, Al McGuire called his last game for NBC (UCLA @ Notre Dame). CBS signed McGuire for the NCAA tournament. In the 1993–94 season, NBC only aired one game, which was UCLA @ Notre Dame on February 5.

In the meantime, NBC also aired the Wooden Classic[18] from 1994[19][20] to 1996.

For the 1995 edition of the Wooden Classic, ABC regionally televised the first half of the doubleheader (Villanova vs. Purdue) with Roger Twibell and Dick Vitale on the call. At approximately 3:45 pm. Eastern time, NBC broadcast Maryland vs. UCLA for the second half. On December 7, 1996, the first game of the Wooden Classic doubleheader (Utah vs. Arizona) tipped off at 1:45 pm, but NBC joined the action in progress at 2 p.m. for most of the country.

NBC's final men's college basketball during this period was a February 28, 1998 contest between Notre Dame and the Providence Friars. NBC continues to maintain a broadcasting relationship with the university as it airs all Notre Dame football home games and select away games.

Coverage on cable; Atlantic 10, CAA and Ivy League (2011–2021)

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When Comcast and NBC Universal merged in 2011, college basketball on Versus was integrated into NBC Sports with the channel's relaunch as NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) on January 1, 2012.[21] In 2012, NBC Sports reached agreements to carry Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) basketball and football on NBCSN and Comcast SportsNet,[22][23] Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) basketball on NBCSN,[24] and renewed NBCSN's rights to the Ivy League for two additional seasons.[25] By the late-2010s, NBC Sports had lost the CAA and Ivy League to other broadcasters.[26][27]

In 2021, NBCSN continued its relationship with the A-10 under a multi-year deal. 25 regular season games are broadcast per-season, as well as selected games from the Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament.[24] NBCSN shut down at the end of 2021, after which USA Network assumed its A-10 broadcasts (among other sports properties).[28]

Expansion of coverage over-the-air and streaming; Atlantic 10, Big East and Big Ten (2022–present)

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In August 2022, NBC Sports announced that it had reached a seven-year deal to carry Big Ten Conference athletics on its platforms, which will include a package of Big Ten men's and women's basketball games on Peacock beginning in the 2023–24 season. Peacock will air up to 47 men's basketball games and 30 women's basketball games per-season (including 32 and 20 intraconference games respectively), as well as the opening night doubleheaders of the men's and women's conference tournaments.[29][30]

NBC Sports carried two inaugural showcase games during the 2022–23 season; NBC aired the Citi Shamrock Classic on November 12, 2022, between Notre Dame and California's women's basketball teams. It marked the first women's college basketball game to ever air on NBC, and its first college basketball game overall since 1998.[31] Peacock would sponsor and air the Peacock Classic on December 2, 2022, between Baylor and Gonzaga—a rematch of the 2021 national championship game.[32]

For the 2023–24 season, it was announced that Noah Eagle, Jac Collinsworth, and Terry Gannon would be the primary play-by-play broadcasters for Big Ten men's basketball, while Robbie Hummel and Stephen Bardo will be the primary game analysts. Additionally, Paul Burmeister, Steve Burkowski, Rich Lerner, and Steve Schlanger would provide play-by-play on select games, while Tre Demps would be an additional game analyst. For Big Ten women's basketball, Zora Stephenson, Cindy Brunson, and Sloane Martin were announced as play-by-play broadcasters, with Meghan McKeown and Julianne Viani serving as game analysts.[33] Ahmed Fareed was announced as studio host for Big Ten men's coverage, working with studio analysts Josh Pastner, and Jordan Cornette, while Carolyn Manno was announced as the studio host for Big Ten women's coverage, with studio analysts Aliyah Boston and Meghan McKeown.[34] Along with Big Ten basketball, Peacock also announced they would air the Indy Classic and the final day of the Philadelphia Big 5, the latter of which was also simulcast on NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus.[35][36]

On December 14, 2023, NBC Sports announced an extension to its Atlantic 10 agreement. NBC Sports will continue to air 25 men's regular season games and 3 women's regular season games, mostly on USA Network. USA Network will also air the first, second and quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament and the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 women's basketball tournament.[37] Games that previously aired exclusively on the free NBC Sports App would now air on Peacock.[38]

On June 27, 2024, it was announced that NBC Sports would broadcast more than 60 Big East Conference men's and women's basketball games alongside Fox Sports and TNT Sports starting in the 2025–26 season. A 30-game trial run on Peacock would stream in the 2024–25 season, including five tournament games in the early round and quarterfinal stages.[39] Two Big East men's games in 2024–25 will air on NBC, along with three women's and two men's Big Ten games.[40][41] For the first time during the 2024–25 season, NBC Sports will also air games on the free NBC Sports FAST Channel. The channel will air all games from the inagural Women's Basketball Coaches Association Showcase, along with one game from the NABC Hall of Fame Classic.[42]

Announcers

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Play-by-play

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Color commentary

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Former commentator pairings

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See also: List of NCAA Men's Final Four broadcasters

As previously mentioned, NBC and TVS were partners in televising college basketball from 1975 to 1983. Typically on Saturdays, NBC and TVS would broadcast a regional slate of college basketball from the various conferences.

Conference Play-by-play Color commentator(s)
Big East/ECAC Marv Albert/Andy Musser Bucky Waters
Big 10 Merle Harmon/Bob Costas Jerry Lucas/Fred Taylor/Steve Grote
Big 8 Fred White/Jay Randolph/Merle Harmon Gary Thompson/Glen Potter
SEC John Ferguson/Tom Hammond Joe Dean
Pac-10 Ross Porter/Barry Tompkins Lynn Shackelford
SWC Frank Fallon/Frank Glieber Rudy Davalos/Dan Spika

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Chronology of NCAA Tournament TV coverage (1969–1981)". Classic Sports TV and Media. March 18, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  2. ^ "IRISH ANNOUNCE FIRST ANNUAL CITI SHAMROCK CLASSIC AGAINST CALIFORNIA IN ST. LOUIS". University of Notre Dame. September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  3. ^ "The first NBC prime time NCAA basketball title game". Classic Sports TV and Media. March 26, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  4. ^ "Milestone firsts in college basketball TV history". Classic Sports TV and Media. November 15, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  5. ^ Hagger, Jeff (March 7, 2016). "The unique Al McGuire – from TV sidekick to star". Classic TV Sports.
  6. ^ "The first game called by Dick Enberg and Billy Packer". Classic Sports TV and Media. December 27, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  7. ^ NBC College Basketball Promo: Notre Dame Vs. UCLA (1976) on YouTube
  8. ^ "Magic vs. Bird – the 1979 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship". NBC Sports History Page. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  9. ^ Tim Layden (March 14, 2012). "March 14, 1981: When the NCAA tournament became Madness". Sports Illustrated. Time Inc. Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  10. ^ O'Malley, Kevin (April 4, 2021). "How CBS snared the NCAA Tourney rights from NBC 40 years ago – in a competitive world of 3 networks". Sports Broadcast Journal.
  11. ^ NBC College Basketball Theme Intro on YouTube
  12. ^ Kansas at Louisville NCAA College Basketball Complete w/Commercials Jan 31 1987 on YouTube
  13. ^ 1985 NBC Sports promo College Basketball DePaul vs. Notre Dame on YouTube
  14. ^ 3/2/1985 – UNC Tar Heels vs. Duke Blue Devils on YouTube
  15. ^ 80's Commercials Vol. 117 on YouTube
  16. ^ NBC Intershow February 1986 on YouTube
  17. ^ An NBC College Basketball Double-Header on YouTube
  18. ^ John Wooden Feature/Prudential NBC Sports Update 12/03/1994 on YouTube
  19. ^ 12/03/1994 Wooden Classic: #7 Kansas Jayhawks vs. #1 Massachusetts Minutemen on YouTube
  20. ^ 12/03/1994 Wooden Classic: #3 Kentucky Wildcats vs. #5 UCLA Bruins on YouTube
  21. ^ Ourand, John. "Exit Versus, enter the NBC Sports Network". Sports Business Journal. Archived from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  22. ^ "NBC Sports Group gets Colonial Athletic Association coverage". SportsPro. June 13, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  23. ^ "CAA increasing national exposure with NBC Sports Network deal". February 14, 2012. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  24. ^ a b "Atlantic 10 and NBC Sports Extend Basketball Media Rights Partnership". atlantic10.com. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  25. ^ "The Ivy League, NBC Sports Group Renew National Television Agreement". May 7, 2012. Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  26. ^ "Smart TV: ESPN to air over 1,100 Ivy games". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  27. ^ "Colonial Athletic Association makes commitment to all-digital coverage with FloSports". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. May 6, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  28. ^ "NBC confirms USA Network's sports coverage plans for 2022". SportsPro. November 3, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  29. ^ Bucholtz, Andrew (August 18, 2022). "Big Ten announces deals with Fox, CBS, NBC, including championship game splits". Awful Announcing. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  30. ^ "Big Ten lands multibillion-dollar TV deal, the richest in college sports". Washington Post. August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  31. ^ "Notre Dame to headline first ever women's college game broadcast on NBC and Peacock". Yahoo! Sports. September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  32. ^ Steinberg, Russell (November 17, 2022). "Peacock Classic: An NIL Breakthrough for Participating Players". Boardroom. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  33. ^ "Big Ten Basketball Announcers Named for 2023-24 Season Exclusively on Peacock, Featuring 50 Men's and Women's Games". October 9, 2023.
  34. ^ "Tip Off! Peacock's Exclusive Big Ten Men's Basketball Schedule Begins Monday, Nov. 6, with Rutgers-Princeton at 7 P.m. Et". November 2, 2023.
  35. ^ "TIP TIMES SET FOR 2023 INDY CLASSIC POWERED BY SPORTS TECH HQ STREAMING LIVE EXCLUSIVELY ON PEACOCK". Indiana Sports Corp (Press release). November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  36. ^ "NBC Sports Philadelphia & Peacock to Broadcast Big 5 Classic at Wells Fargo Center". Drexel Dragons (Press release). November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  37. ^ "ATLANTIC 10 ANNOUNCES MEDIA RIGHTS AGREEMENT WITH CBS SPORTS, ESPN, AND NBC SPORTS". NBC Sports. December 14, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2024.
  38. ^ "Nearly 150 National Appearances, 78 Telecasts Highlight A-10 Men's Basketball Schedule". Atlantic 10. September 24, 2024. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  39. ^ "BIG EAST Announces New Media Rights Agreement". Big East Conference. June 27, 2024.
  40. ^ "PEACOCK'S 2024-25 BIG EAST MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE FEATURES 30 GAMES STREAMING LIVE WITH EVERY TEAM MAKING MULTIPLE APPEARANCES". Big East Conference. October 2, 2024.
  41. ^ Berg, Aiden (October 9, 2024). "NBC, Peacock's full Big Ten men's basketball schedule released for 2024-25 season". NBC Sports. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  42. ^ "JUJU WATKINS AND NO. 3 USC HOST HANNAH HIDALGO AND NO. 6 NOTRE DAME THIS SATURDAY, NOV. 23 AT 4 P.M. ET, HEADLINING COLLEGE BASKETBALL COVERAGE THIS WEEK ACROSS NBC AND PEACOCK". NBC Sports. November 19, 2024. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
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Preceded by NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship television broadcaster
1969 – 1981 		Succeeded by
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