‘March Madness’ Takes Center Court: What’s on This Weekend in TV Sports (March 23-24)

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

A look at the weekend’s top TV sports events on broadcast, cable and streaming services

Melvin Council Jr. #11 of the Wagner Seahawks defends a shot by Elliot Cadeau #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second half of the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Spectrum Center on March 21, 2024
The North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Wagner Seahawks to advance into the NCAA tournament’s second round. (Image credit: Getty Images)

College basketball’s March Madness action leads the lineup of live sports content airing over the first weekend of spring.

CBS, TNT, TBS and TruTV will combine to air second-round coverage of the NCAA men’s college basketball championship throughout the weekend as the tournament marches toward its “Sweet 16” round. On Sunday, ESPN, ABC, ESPNews, ESPN2 and ESPNU will televise second-round action from the women’s tournament.

On the ice, ABC on Saturday will air the Florida Panthers-New York Rangers NHL game, while on Sunday TNT will televise the Pittsburgh Penguins-Colorado Avalanche contest. On the links, NBC and Golf Channel will offer final-round coverage of the Valspar Championship PGA Tour event. 

In the octagon, ESPN on Saturday will air a UFC Fight Night card featuring the women’s flyweight bout between Amanda Ribas and Rose Namajunas. On the racetrack, Fox on Sunday will televise the NASCAR Cup EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix, while NBC airs the IndyCar $1 Million Challenge race and ESPN runs the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.