Tuesday, October 13, 2026

March Madness TV Ad Sales Soar Past $1B

  • Ad sales outpacing last season say CBS, WBD Sports executives.
  • March Madness Live virtually sold out.
Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

March Madness advertising sales are outpacing last season, with CBS Sports and Warner Bros. Discovery Sports “virtually sold out” of inventory, according to Adweek.

Collectively, the two TV partners have “significantly” surpassed last year’s record haul of $1 billion in ad sales for the men’s NCAA tournament, WBD Sports executive VP of sales Jon Diament said Wednesday.

The NCAA’s media partners see mid-to-high-single-digit increases for the tournament, added John Bogusz, executive vice president of sales at Paramount Advertising. The NCAA March Madness Live app is also virtually sold out.

NCAA-March-Madness

March Madness Could Reach 90 Teams

An NCAA committee proposed expanding March Madness, more money for women’s sports.
January 4, 2023

Most TV commercials will be those of NCAA corporate partners such as Coca-Cola, Capital One, AT&T, Pizza Hut, Buick, and Nissan.

CBS will kick off the Big Dance with its annual Selection Sunday show at 6 p.m. ET. Greg Gumbel will host the annual bracket reveal, along with former Villanova coach Jay Wright and analysts Clark Kellogg and Seth Davis.

The 2023 tournament begins with the First Four games on March 14-15. The men’s Final Four is scheduled for April 1, followed by the NCAA Championship Game on April 3. 

CBS and WBD Sports will team up for live coverage of all 67 games across CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV. 

CBS will air the Final Four and Championship Game. All games will also be streamed on NCAA March Madness Live.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Belichick, UNC Score Biggest Win Yet After Rocky Offseason

Belichick’s revamped UNC roster is beginning to show signs of progress.
Oct 4, 2026; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs for seventy-six yards against Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Taron Johnson (3) and safety Jeremy Chinn (11) during the fourth quarter at Allegiant Stadium.

Combined Sports Assets Give Skydance Leverage With NFL

The company’s co-CEOs spent Day 1 meeting with employees and press.
A drone view shows the Paramount water tower at Paramount studios in Hollywood and the Hollywood sign, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., August 24, 2026.

Newly Formed Skydance Is a Force in Sports Media

The large-scale deal creates a sports media colossus.
Opinion

Tony Romo Had an Enormous Impact on NFL TV

The “Romo Effect” will be felt for years to come.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

10/13/26 – Quinn On Hot Seat, Dream’s Arena Crunch, FOS “Tuned In” Preview

0:00

Featured Today

Oct 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas arrives at the arena before the Penguins host the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Paints Arena

NHL’s New Wave of GMs Is Built Different

“I am in the prediction business,” Devils GM Sunny Mehta tells FOS.
Action Images/Peter Cziborra
October 9, 2026

Is Leicester City’s $264 Million Price Tag Too Rich for Hungry Investors?

After falling from grace, how much is a former top club worth?
Oct 3, 2026; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer waits to run onto the field prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
October 7, 2026

Who Is Alabama Football in Year 3 Under Kalen DeBoer?

The No. 6 Crimson Tide host No. 2 Georgia on Saturday.
Cubs behind the scenes
October 6, 2026

Hollywood and TikTok: Sports Media’s New ‘Blueprint’

Teams and leagues are pouring money into the quest for fans.
October 2, 2026

How the Baseball Cap Became a ‘Behemoth’

The hat has become essential for athletes, fans, and the sports-agnostic.
Don Garber Front Office Sports
Exclusive

Post–World Cup Soccer Audiences Surge Among Young Viewers

Domestic and European leagues have seen post-tournament audience bumps.
ESPN
October 12, 2026

Disney Stacks Super Bowl LXI Lineup With Even More Alt-Casts

Disney adds to its cross-platform coverage of the upcoming NFL title game.
Sep 27, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; NBC broadcast analyst Mike Tomlin before the game between Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Opinion
October 12, 2026

The Tomlin Effect? NFL Analysts More Blunt Than Ever

Rex Ryan is the latest ex-coach to break from the fraternity.
Sponsored

Beyond the Scorecard: How Dow Is Putting Purpose at the Center of Women’s Golf

Discover how Dow and the LPGA are building a partnership with lasting impact.
Sep 21, 2026; Inglewood, CA, USA; Pat McAfee on the ESPN Monday Night Countdown set at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Opinion
October 12, 2026

Could Pat McAfee’s Super Alt-Cast Be an MNF Tryout?

McAfee will host a Field Pass alt-cast for Super Bowl LXI.
Opinion
October 11, 2026

It’s Time for NFL Networks to Hire ‘Clock Management’ Specialists

Washington let the clock run out instead of kicking a field goal.
Oct 23, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Stephen A. Smith (Stephen Smith) on the ESPN NBA Countdown live set at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
October 8, 2026

Stephen A. Smith Ditches the ‘Nopology’ in Lane Johnson Mea Culpa

Smith faced criticism for comments about Johnson retiring to focus on mental health.
Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - AS Monaco v RC Strasbourg - Stade Louis II, Monaco, - April 19, 2025 TV pundit holds a DAZN microphone before the match
October 8, 2026

DAZN Grows Sports Footprint as It Acquires Local Rights

The streamer has quickly amassed a large collection of team rights.