No, Disney Didn't Secure NCAA 'March Madness' Rights
Disney has been the subject of many angry discussions on social media lately due to the company's impasse with YouTube TV, which ended on the evening of November 14.
So, audiences on X were primed to believe a viral social media post from a page named "Scott Hughes" that alleged Disney has now secured the rights to NCAA "March Madness" broadcasts.
- However, there is no evidence that the viral claim is true.
- In fact, the NCCA rights are secured by CBS Sports and TNT Sports, not Disney. They have the exclusive rights through 2032, and this is confirmed on the NCAA's website.
- "Scott Hughes" has been accused of a false report relating to sports before.
The NCAA's website says, "TNT Sports and CBS Sports have the exclusive rights to license NCAA marks, tickets and taglines in commercial promotions with respect to the NCAA championships and hold certain exclusive media rights in the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. TNT Sports and CBS will negotiate the NCAA’s corporate champion and corporate partner agreements."
According to the NCAA, "CBS and Turner Sports have agreed to an eight-year media rights extension to continue broadcasting the NCAA men’s basketball tournament through 2032. CBS and Turner Sports have agreed to an eight-year media rights extension to continue broadcasting the NCAA men’s basketball tournament through 2032."
That didn't stop people from responding in anger as the post went viral. "Disney is single-handedly trying to ruin college sports," wrote one person.
Sports fans' anger at Disney derives from the YouTube TV blackout of ESPN, leaving people without access to Monday Night Football, NBA, and college football broadcasts. Disney and YouTube TV reached the deal on November 14. But fans were still angry over the two weeks they went without their favorite games.
"Great. So no one will be able to watch it," wrote one person about the Hughes' report on Disney and the NCAA. But another person responded, "Fake news."
The Scott Hughes' Account Was Called a 'Fake Social Media Account' by a Prominent Newspaper
The account in the name of "Scott Hughes" started the chatter by writing on X on November 14, "NEWS: Disney has secured the media rights to the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments beginning in 2029, per release. The deal ends CBS and Turner’s decades-long partnership. Starting in 2029, March Madness games will be broadcast across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN+."
However, who is Scott Hughes? NJ.comhas previously accused Hughes' page of being a "fake social media account." That's a prominent newspaper in New Jersey.
According to NJ.com, the same account was responsible for a false rumor about former ESPN NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski in early November 2025. A community note was placed on the Hughes' post, indicating that it appeared to be "humor."
The page has made at least one other unsubstantiated claim that was quickly debunked, also relating to sports journalism.
No matter. The Hughes' post on Disney and the NCAA had more than 200,000 views in just over three hours. The page describes its author as "Credentialed men’s college basketball reporter. Independent journalist. SUNY Cortland class of ‘09. Husband, father" and claims he previously wrote for well-known sports publications.