LAS VEGAS – College basketball’s newest postseason event, the Vegas 16, has reached a multi-platform agreement with CBS Sports for coverage of the inaugural tournament on CBS Sports Network and the College Sports Live digital streaming service from CBS Interactive Advanced Media. CBS Sports Network will televise seven games, the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship game, while College Sports Live and Vegas16.com will live stream eight first-round games.
The action tips off on CBS Sports Network on Monday, March 28 and continues through Wednesday, March 30. A complete schedule is listed below.
In addition to the live stream on College Sports Live and Vegas16.com, the Vegas 16 digital platforms will feature live statistics, an online shop with participating team merchandise, and other premium offerings for each fan base. College Sports Live features live coverage of more than 18,000 events in more than 30 sports for both men and women, plus thousands more related on-demand videos throughout the year. It can be accessed across laptops, desktops, tablets and mobile devices, including online at www.collegesportslive.com, and is also available for mobile on iOS and Android and on Roku players and Roku TV models.
“CBS Sports is synonymous with premium sports programming and we are excited to bring the Vegas 16 to CBS Sports Network and College Sports Live,” said Brooks Downing, president of bd Global, LLC, the event promoter. “We believe that we have created a unique and compelling postseason event for college basketball and look forward to showcasing the teams and exciting action to national audiences on CBS Sports Network and digital platforms.”
The Vegas 16 – which features 16 men’s basketball teams in a five-day single-elimination tournament at one site – tips off on March 26 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The tournament television and streaming schedule is as follows:
- Saturday, March 26 – First Round games at noon, 2:30, 6 and 8:30 all streamed live on College Sports Live and Vegas16.com (all times listed are Pacific)
- Sunday, March 27 – First Round games at noon, 2:30, 6 and 8:30 all streamed on College Sports Live and Vegas16.com
- Monday, March 28 – Quarterfinal games at noon, 2:30, 6 and 8:30 all broadcast live on CBS Sports Network
- Tuesday, March 29 – Semifinal games at 6 p.m. and 8:30 on CBS Sports Network
- Wednesday, March 30 – Championship game at 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network
The Vegas 16 bracket is expected to be announced on Sunday, March 13.
The Vegas 16 Tournament Committee is chaired by former Arizona and UNLV Director of Athletics Jim Livengood; George Raveling, a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and Nike Basketball’s Director of International Basketball and Global Sports Marketing; Debbie Antonelli, current analyst for men’s and women’s college basketball on ESPN, CBS, Fox, Raycom Sports and Westwood One; John Balistere, basketball consultant for MGM Resorts International; and Downing, President and CEO of tournament promoter bd Global.
More information on the Vegas 16 can be found at www.vegas16.com or follow on Twitter at @VegasSixteen.