INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The NCAA has agreed to a $500 million deal with ESPN to broadcast the championships in many of its sports through the 2023-24 school year.
The contract announced Thursday gives the company international rights to the men's basketball tournament. It continues the network's U.S. coverage of the women's basketball tourney and the College World Series for baseball and softball.
ESPN's multimedia platforms will air the championships for seven more sports to increase the total to 24 -- adding women's gymnastics, men's and women's fencing, Division I women's lacrosse, Division I men's and women's outdoor track, and women's bowling. There will be more than 600 hours of live programming annually.
ESPN will air more contests in the early rounds of the Division I FCS football, women's volleyball, softball and baseball tournaments.
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