March Madness Inventory Nearly Sold Out: Report

March Madness officially begins next week, and business is booming for both CBS Sports and TNT Sports. Several reports surfaced Wednesday evening confirming that the networks have completely sold out their inventory for the upcoming tournament run.

Speaking via a Zoom call to reporters, Executive Vice President and Head of Sports Sales for Paramount Advertising Ryan Briganti announced the sales success for the highly anticipated basketball tournament.

“We are happy to say we’re virtually sold out,” Briganti said. “This marketplace picked up earlier than it has historically, as [it] drafted off the strong demand of the general sports marketplace. That’s where we’re currently at.”

Although Briganti declined to offer specific details regarding the volume of inventory or price points, it is evident that the NCAA will be cashing in. Live sports programming remains one of the most valuable assets for broadcast networks, consistently delivering high viewership.

Last year’s NCAA tournament featured 67 games and generated more than $1 billion in sales. With demand at an all-time high, many industry experts anticipate that revenue will rise even further for the 2025 tournament, which tips off next week across CBS Sports and TNT Sports.

The CBS-TNT Sports partnership began in 2010 when the two parties agreed to a 14-year, $10.8 billion deal to collaborate on coverage of the men’s tournament. Then, in March 2016, both parties extended their agreement with an $8.8 billion deal that runs through the conclusion of the 2032 men’s tournament.

The tournament field expanded to 68 teams in 2011, and recently, there have been growing discussions about expanding it even further. On Tuesday, Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark publicly stated that he supports increasing the men’s NCAA tournament field to 76 teams. According to Yormark, a decision could come in the next few months, potentially paving the way for changes to be implemented as early as next year.

However, not everyone is fully on board with expansion. When asked about the prospect of increasing the field to 76 teams, David Berson, president and CEO of CBS Sports, expressed some concerns.

“No one wants to do anything that’s going to negatively impact the tournament,” Berson said. “Or do anything to take away from how special it is.”

Looking ahead, the NCAA tournament bracket will be revealed on Sunday night, setting the stage for an exciting competition. First Four action kicks off on Tuesday and Wednesday from Dayton, OH, officially launching this year’s March Madness frenzy.

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