| Let's start with a definition. There are a number | | | | the Local Channels for both Dish Network® |
| of accounts of where the term came from. I like | | | | and DIRECTV®. |
| the history told on marchmadness.org. They state | | | | ESPN |
| that the term was originated in 1939 by Henry V. | | | | They have a wealth of basketball with ESPN, |
| Porter to describe the Illinois Boys State | | | | ESPN2, ESPNews and ESPNU, the college channel. |
| Tournament. This tracks with my father's stories | | | | Some of these games are also on ESPN HD. Look |
| of the great high school basketball teams in Illinois | | | | for regular season games and conference |
| before World War II. | | | | tournaments leading up to the NCAA Tournament. |
| According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, it is | | | | There is also Selection Sunday and additional |
| all about college basketball. "The term originally | | | | college basketball news and commentary. |
| referred to the conference basketball | | | | Basketball Packages: |
| tournaments, which occur in March just before | | | | - ESPN Full Court - ESPN comes through again! At |
| the NCAA tournament begins, but in recent years | | | | this time of year the package has been |
| has been used to refer to the NCAA tournament | | | | discounted just in time for the season to heat up. |
| itself (the first weekend of which involves some | | | | This package is available on both satellite services. |
| 49 games, and which actually runs into early April). | | | | - MEGA MARCH MADNESS® - This package is |
| The term is now used in reference to both the | | | | provided by CBS as an exclusive to |
| men's and women's tournaments." | | | | DIRECTV®. It includes up to 37 games from |
| Today, the NCAA has trademarked the term and | | | | outside your immediate region which you can't |
| claims it as its own. To sports fans, it simply | | | | see anywhere else. It also provides three new |
| means great basketball and plenty of it. Who can't | | | | Special Enhanced Features including watching up to |
| like that? | | | | 3 games at once on a single screen, an |
| Is Basketball better on Satellite TV? | | | | Interactive Tournament Bracket where you enter |
| In a word, YES! There are many reasons but I | | | | your own bracket picks and track their progress |
| consider these three to be the most important: | | | | as the Tournament unfolds and an Enhanced |
| 1. Crystal Clear All-Digital Picture This is one of the | | | | Games feature. |
| key reasons to get Satellite TV even if you don't | | | | High Definition available on Satellite |
| like sports. With Satellite TV, all channels are fully | | | | Basketball is better on widescreen high definition |
| digital. This means a great picture (and great | | | | TV. Take a look at my article Why You should |
| sound). Check it out at your local Best Buy. They | | | | Watch Sports on HDTV. If you are still |
| have a signal piped in from corporate and put on | | | | unconvinced, take a trip to the local big box store |
| a computer for their regular store and | | | | and stare at an HDTV picture for a while. Going |
| DIRECTV® feeding the Magnolia Theater | | | | back to standard TV will be painful. Practically all |
| Store, their boutique shop where they sell the | | | | of the programming discussed above is available |
| high dollar TVs. They simply want the picture on | | | | on Satellite TV in HD and HD satellite equipment |
| the expensive sets to be better. I think that says | | | | upgrades are free with some system packages. |
| it all! | | | | Conclusion |
| 2. More Games NCAA men's and women's | | | | Moving up to Satellite TV is a great for sports |
| basketball is available from a number of providers | | | | and will enhance TV viewing for the rest of the |
| and to see the greatest number of games you | | | | family as well. With the great deals offered by |
| will need to have access to many programming | | | | both DirecTV and Dish Network, now is the best |
| sources. Here's what Satellite TV can provide: | | | | time ever to upgrade your family room by |
| Network Coverage | | | | ordering a Satellite TV system. Take the plunge |
| CBS has the rights to the tournament games and | | | | now and you'll be happy you did! |
| provides this to their affiliate stations. See this on | | | | |