Alongside the Big Ten’s decision, the NCAA Division I Council announced that both the men’s and women’s 2020-21 basketball seasons would begin on Nov. 25, just 15 days after the original start date.
It’s an important step toward ensuring not only that athletes get a full basketball season — the 2020 season was cut short due to the onset of COVID-19 in March — but that the NCAA and its member schools receive the lucrative payout that the men’s March Madness tournament rakes in every year.
Slam Dunk Business:
- The NCAA’s current March Madness media rights contract with CBS and Turner pays out $10.8 billion over 14 years, from 2011 to 2024. An eight-year contract extension pushed the deal through 2032, and will pay out another $8.8 billion.
- In 2018-2019, the NCAA received $867.5 million of those TV and marketing rights for March Madness.
- The NCAA sent about $375 million less than was expected to Division I programs this year due to the cancellation of the event.
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