Kristian Ferrell
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is an annual, 64-team, single-elimination tournament with a $1 million (or $2 million) prize. It is hosted across eight regions in the US. In 2024, TBT will be broadcast on the Fox Sports family of networks, marking its debut on the channel after previously airing on ESPN. The games will be aired on FOX, FS1, and FS, with 26 or 27 windows live on linear television. The remaining games will be live-streamed for free on the TBT website, and on streaming platforms such as Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Tournament | The Basketball Tournament (TBT) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Number of Teams | 64 |
| Type of Tournament | Single-elimination |
| Number of Regions | 8 |
| Regions | Wichita, Indianapolis, Lexington, Louisville, Dayton, Cincinnati, Houston, Pittsburgh, and Butler |
| Number of Games Live on Linear Television | 27 |
| Channels | FOX, FS1, and FS |
| Streaming Options | Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and TheTournament.com |
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What You'll Learn
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) channels
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is an annual, summer, winner-take-all tournament with a $2 million prize. In 2024, the tournament will take place from July 19 to August 4. TBT features 64 teams, single-elimination tournament play, and an alternate scoring rule known as the Elam Ending, where teams play to a "Target Score."
In 2024, TBT will debut on the Fox Sports family of networks, including FOX, FS1, and FS2. The Fox cable networks will combine for 26 windows, with three windows airing on broadcast television: Saturday, July 20; Sunday, July 21; and the final on Sunday, August 4. The remaining 34 windows will be live-streamed for free on the TBT website.
In addition to the games streamed on the TBT website, streaming options for the tournament include Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV, which carry FOX, FS1, FS2, and the Big Ten Network. Fubo is currently offering a free trial.
TBT has grown tremendously in popularity amongst fans and players, with a record 77,000 fans attending games across the country in 2023. More than 75 players with NBA experience competed in the 2023 tournament, the most in TBT history.
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TBT's shift from ESPN to Fox Sports
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is shifting from ESPN to Fox Sports for its 2024 broadcast. This is a notable change, as TBT was previously aired on the ESPN family of networks, including ESPN+. In its first year on Fox Sports, the tournament will be broadcast on television through the Fox cable networks FS1, FS2, and the Big Ten Network, with 26 windows across these channels. Additionally, the TBT website will offer free live streaming of the remaining 34 windows.
The shift from ESPN to Fox Sports for TBT is part of a larger trend in the sports media landscape. With the ongoing transition from linear TV to streaming services, traditional networks are increasingly investing in streaming platforms. Fox, for instance, is launching its own streaming service in the fall, signalling the company's recognition of the value of live sports content for advertising.
ESPN's decision to move away from TBT could be influenced by its shifting content spending and pursuit of younger viewers through streaming platforms. The network has noted its interest in having baseball in its lineup beyond 2025, suggesting a continued focus on sports programming. ESPN is also set to launch its flagship streamer soon and has formed strategic partnerships with Fox and WBD for a joint streaming service, indicating its ongoing commitment to sports content, including the NBA and NFL.
The shift to Fox Sports for TBT provides an opportunity to reach a broad audience through television and streaming options. With Fox's linear television channels and the availability of its content on streaming services like Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV, viewers will have enhanced access to TBT. This change aligns with the tournament's format, which features 64 teams across eight different regions, allowing for wider viewership and engagement.
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TBT's live streaming options
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is a 64-team, single-elimination open tournament that takes place in eight different regions across the United States. In 2024, TBT will make its broadcast television debut with three windows airing on FOX: Saturday, July 20; Sunday, July 21; and the Sunday, August 4 final.
- Fox cable networks: FS1, FS2, and the Big Ten Network. These networks will combine for 26 windows of TBT coverage. Viewers can watch live with a traditional cable package or by signing in with their TV provider credentials on the Fox website or app.
- TBT website: The remaining 34 windows will be live-streamed for free on the official TBT website.
- Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV: These streaming services carry FOX, FS1, FS2, and the Big Ten Network, allowing subscribers to catch all the TBT action live. Some of these services offer free trials for new customers.
In addition to the above options, viewers can also check their local listings or streaming platforms to find specific channels broadcasting TBT, such as FOX Sports, which will carry TBT games on FOX, FS1, and FS, with 27 games live on linear television.
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TBT's schedule and teams
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is an annual, 64-team, single-elimination, open tournament that takes place across eight different regions in the United States. The tournament features college alumni teams, former tournament champions, and players with NBA experience.
In 2023, the tournament was held in Wichita, Lubbock, Cincinnati, Syracuse, Wheeling, Dayton, and Louisville, with the quarterfinals played in Wichita, Wheeling, Dayton, and Louisville, and the semifinals and championship game in Philadelphia. The 2023 TBT winner was Team Heartfire from the Dayton region.
For 2024, the tournament will kick off on July 19 and conclude with the semifinals and championship play from August 2 to 4 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The games will be aired on the Fox Sports family of networks, with 27 games live on linear television, including three on FOX.
Some of the teams participating in the 2025 edition of TBT include Best Virginia (West Virginia University alumni team), AfterShocks (Wichita State alumni team), JHX Hoops (Kansas University alumni team), Purple Reign (Kansas State University alumni team), and Boeheim's Army (Syracuse University alumni team).
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TBT's rules and format
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) is a 64-team, single-elimination open tournament that takes place in eight different regions across the US. The tournament has had as many as 97 teams, in 2015, and as few as 24 teams, in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2016, the tournament has most often used a 64-team field. The 2024 tournament will kick off on July 19-24 with semifinals and championship play resuming on August 2-4 in Philadelphia, PA.
TBT uses different scoring rules than traditional basketball leagues like the NBA. TBT uses the Elam Ending, an alternate ending to games where teams play to a "Target Score". The Elam Ending was first used by TBT in 2017 and received widespread attention in 2020 when it was chosen as the format for the NBA All-Star Game. In this format, the game clock is turned off at the first whistle with up to four minutes remaining, and teams play to a target score, which is the leading team's score plus a predetermined number of points. A rule change was made in 2020 to make a game-ending free throw slightly less likely. If the defensive team commits a non-shooting foul during the Elam Ending with the offensive team in the bonus, the offense receives one free throw plus possession.
TBT has had a number of current and former NBA players participate, including Hakim Warrick, Jason Williams, Dahntay Jones, Mike Bibby, and Matt Bonner. The 2019 tournament was expected to be the first to feature an active female professional, Megan Gustafson, but she was ultimately unable to participate. Many teams feature professional players reunited under a former college or university name. Five alumni teams have won TBT: Buffalo, Marquette, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and Syracuse.
The championship prize money was $2 million from 2016 through 2019. Since 2020, the top prize has been $1 million. The prize money goes to the winning team's personnel. There are also prizes for the top 1,000 bracket entries submitted by fans that score the most points through their picks, on a de-escalating scale starting at $4,000 for the winner.
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Frequently asked questions
The Basketball Tournament (TBT) will be broadcast on the Fox Sports family of networks, including FOX, FS1, and FS2.
You can stream The Basketball Tournament live with Fubo, DIRECTV STREAM, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV, or on the TBT website. Fubo is currently offering a free trial.
The 11th edition of The Basketball Tournament will take place from July 19-24, with semifinals and championship play resuming on August 2-4.
