CBS and Turner Sports Share in the (March) Madness!

In an unprecedented move, CBS will share its broadcasting duties and $10.8 billion cost of the rights to the new 68-team NCAA Tournament with Turner Sports and its affiliated networks which include TBS, TNT, and truTV. The new partnership will, for the first time, put the fan in control of programming and give us home access to every game throughout the tournament. Score!

Game analysis and commentary will be brought to you by CBS and Turner's familiar roster of broadcast talent: Greg Anthony, Charles Barkley, Seth Davis, Len Elmore, Greg Gumbel, Ernie Johnson, Gus Johnson, Clark Kellogg, Steve Kerr, Kenny Smith, Marty Snider, Matt Winer, and Tracy Wolfson.

This is certainly good news for the viewer. We can now assert our power and select which games we prefer to watch. In the past, I've always felt I was at the mercy of CBS to deliver the game(s) I was most interested in watching. This hit or miss approach has often left me disappointed, ruining my viewing experience.

Additionally, and most importantly, Gus Johnson fans are now guaranteed the opportunity to hear and revel in all of his calls. For me, this is the biggest win of them all! Gus will bless us with his awesomeness starting Wednesday night. Now, if CBS would wise up and assign him to the National Championship Game, my March Madness experience would be complete. If you agree, sign the official Put Gus Johnson on the National Championship Game Petition.

If you're left scratching your head wondering what the hell truTV is and most importantly, if it's included in your basic cable package, the answer is yes. As you breathe a sigh of relief, I'm sure you're now left wondering if it's available in HD. Well, the answer is yes and no. It depends on your cable provider and location. Unfortunately, New York City Time Warner Cable sufferers customers like myself do not receive truTVHD.

The madness starts tonight with truTV First Four at 6:30 PM/ET. Do yourself a favor, save yourself some time and locate the channel number in advance.

Living on a budget and no longer have cable? If you have the internet, you don't have to miss any of the action. All of the games will be available on the NCAA Tournament's website via March Madness on Demand.

OR, if you have an iPhone, iPod, or iPad, you can download a number of apps to manage your brackets and watch the games on-the-go. Read more at Technorati and Digital Trends.

Good luck with your brackets and finding truTV.

Let's go Big East!!

Did You Hear? Charles Barkley Launched a Site, Mike Fratello Blogs, and Stephen A. Smith Returned to ESPN!

Did you hear? Sir Charles Barkley, one of the NBA's most colorful personalities "quietly" launched a personal website this week.  Now he has his very own platform to speak his mind on anything he wants.  Brilliant!

Charlesbarkley.com, powered by Turner Sports, has five videos posted with Charles commenting on various topics ranging from Auburn's Top 5 Athletes to Ted Williams: Man with the Golden Voice to Charles' Oscar pick for Best Actor.  And in true Barkley fashion, he rants & raves about folks putting rims on their car.

As if that's not reason enough to check out the site, it also appears that Barkley will be regularly chatting with fans. According to the site, his first chat will take place tomorrow at 9:30pm/et. Tune in!

I just have one question.  What took Charles so long?!?!  I don't know why, but whenever he talks I listen.  No, I don't always share his point of view, but that doesn't interfere with me being thoroughly entertained by this man.  I expect great thought provoking, ridiculously over-the-top and timely rants from Sir Charles.

 

Another TNT favorite of mine is analyst Mike Fratello.  If you haven't checked out The Czar's blog, do yourself a favor and get on it! The YES Network and TNT vet does an incredible job of breaking down the X's and O's of games; while also dishing out fantasy basketball tips and choosing his top plays of the previous night.  Basically, Fratello delivers the goods basketball fans care about.

For example, today he polls fans asking who would win a 3-point shootout contest between Ray Allen and Reggie Miller.  My pick?  Jesus Shuttlesworth, but you can cast your vote here.

MikeFratello.com offers such great insight and coverage one can't help but wonder if he'll be making his return to the sidelines as a coach anytime soon.  Hmmm...

To keep up with The Czar, follow him on twitter and facebook.

In other news, ESPN's merry-go-round relationship with Stephen A. Smith continues.  After parting ways with the network two years ago, yesterday it was announced that Stephen A. is returning as a radio host and columnist. 

Spanning the two coasts, Smith will provide commentary on ESPN 1050 NY from 7-9 p.m. ET and ESPN 710 in LA from 6-8 p.m. PT.  Smith, another polarizing personality, is expected to focus on the Knicks and Lakers, but I guarantee that he'll discuss whatever the hell he wants, because that's what he does.  No censoring this guy. 

ESPN's Norby Williamson, EVP of Production welcomed Smith back to network by saying, "Stephen A. consistently offers strong opinions on a wide variety of topics.  He has a proven track record as an authoratative voice, which will lead to insightful conversation leading into Knicks and Lakers game coverage."

When Smith announced his Fox Sports Radio morning show was ending, months ago, I wondered where he'd land next.  Over the years, the outspoken Independent has become a popular and respected voice in the world of politics, but I'm glad he'll be back on the radio talking Knicks basketball.

It's unclear when Smith's radio show launches, but you can keep up with him on twitter and his site, www.stephena.com.