The Basketball Tournament (TBT) and FOX Sports Announce Multi-Year Media Rights Agreement

The Basketball Tournament to Air 27 Games This Summer on the FOX Sports Family of Networks

$1 Million Winner-Take-All Championship Game Airs August 4 on FOX 

BOSTON – April 18, 2024 – The Basketball Tournament (TBT), the $1 million winner-take-all summer event today announced a multi-year media rights agreement with FOX Sports to carry games on FOX, FS1, and FS2. As part of the agreement, the network will carry 27 TBT games live on linear television, including three on FOX.

“We are thrilled to make FOX Sports the new home of TBT,” said TBT co-owner and Golden State Warriors guard Chris Paul. “The event has experienced tremendous growth these past few years and this agreement will take it to new heights. With a growing number of players I’ve crossed paths within the league committed to play, this summer will be both competitive and entertaining for TBT.”

“We are excited to kick off our second decade of TBT with FOX Sports,” said TBT founder and CEO Jon Mugar. “Across FOX, FS1, and FS2, we will reach more basketball fans than ever before, further cementing TBT as a mainstay on the basketball calendar. This summer will make for our most electrifying tournament yet.”

TBT is a 64-team, single-elimination tournament hosted across eight regionals. All regional events are hosted by an alumni team representing a powerhouse college basketball program. This summer’s locations and host teams include:

• Wichita, Kansas (hosted by the AfterShocks/Wichita State)
• Houston, Texas (hosted by Forever Coogs/University of Houston)
• Indianapolis, Indiana (hosted by All Good Dawgs/Butler University)
• Cincinnati, Ohio (hosted by Nasty Nati/University of Cincinnati)
• Dayton, Ohio (hosted by Red Scare/University of Dayton)
• Lexington, Kentucky (hosted by La Familia/University of Kentucky)
• Louisville, Kentucky (hosted by The Ville/University of Louisville)
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (hosted by Zoo Crew/University of Pittsburgh)

TBT’s regionals will run from Friday, July 19 to Wednesday, July 24. One team from each region will advance to TBT’s quarterfinals, which will take place Monday, July 29 and Tuesday, July 30. TBT’s semifinals will be played on Friday, August 2, and the $1 million winner-take-all championship will be played on Sunday, August 4.

Notable players committed this year include former NBA players Eric Bledsoe and Willie Cauley-Stein of La Familia, the University of Kentucky alumni team, and Russ Smith and Montrezl Harrell of The Ville, the University of Louisville alumni team.

The three games scheduled to air live on FOX include The Ville’s first-round game of the Louisville Regional on Saturday, July 20, La Familia’s second-round game (if they advance) of the Lexington Regional on Sunday, July 21, and the $1 million championship game on Sunday, August 4.

TBT’s full television schedule and additional broadcast details will be released at a later date.

“FOX Sports is always looking to expand our basketball offerings and TBT is a perfect opportunity to provide more top-notch action to basketball fans across the nation,” said Bill Wanger, Executive Vice President, Head of Programming and Scheduling. “We are thrilled to showcase TBT across the FOX Sports family of networks this summer and in years to come.”

Now entering its 11th year, The Basketball Tournament has grown tremendously in popularity amongst both fans and players. A record 77,000 fans attended TBT games across the country last year, including 7,202 for TBT’s quarterfinals, a new TBT single-game record. More than 75 players with NBA experience competed in TBT 2023 as well, the most in tournament history.

TBT is the home of the Elam Ending®, the alternate ending to basketball games where teams play to a Target Score™, which has previously been used in the NBA All-Star game and is currently in use in the G League, the CEBL, and other events across the globe. Mike Perman and Aggregate Sports are the media agency of record for TBT.

For more information on The Basketball Tournament, visit thetournament.com.