$LAM DUNK
Fox Sports announce major broadcast change as basketball tournament with $1m prize signs up for multi-year deal
Former NBA stars are set to appear in the televised games
FOX Sports have struck a multi-year deal to broadcast The Basketball Tournament.
The winner-take-all $1million summer event will see 27 games aired live, including three on FOX.
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"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."
TBT is a 64-team elimination tournament and will be split into eight regionals.
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The events are hosted by an alumni team from a powerhouse college basketball program.
Regionals will run from July 19 to July 24 with one team from each advancing to the quarterfinals.
The last eight will go against each other on July 29 and July 30.
The semifinals take place in early August before the championship game on August 4.
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Notable players committed this year include former NBA players Eric Bledsoe and Willie Cauley-Stein in the University of Kentucky alumni team La Familia and Russ Smith and Montrezl Harrell for the University of Louisville's representatives The Ville.
The three games scheduled live on FOX include The Ville’s first-round game on July 20 and - if they advance - La Familia’s second-round contest on July 21, as well as the $1m showdown.
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"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."
"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,” added FOX executive vice-president Bill Wanger.
"We are thrilled to showcase TBT across the FOX Sports family of networks this summer and in years to come."
TBT regional hosts
THIS summer's tournament will be held in the following eight venues.
- 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 is entering its 11th year and the event continues to build momentum with players and fans.
A record 77,000 fans attended TBT games across the country last year, including a single-game record of 7,202 in the quarter-finals.
More than 75 players with NBA experience competed in TBT 2023 - another tournament high.
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Organisers will hope that the new deal brings in even higher viewers in the 2024 edition.
TBT's full broadcast schedule will be revealed later.