Charles Barkley, who's long argued college players should be compensated, is center stage. And Sean McManus, who oversees CBS' sports and news units, says the Tiffany network won't rein him in: "We never discussed having Charles be different. He'll be Charles Barkley."

And part of a new CBS-Turner joint effort where TNT's NBA announcers mingle with returning CBS NCAA voices as all tournament games will air in their entirety on CBS or Turner's TNT, TBS and truTV cable channels. (If you don't know truTV, which air the NCAA's first four games, check out its Hard Core Pawn series episode called "Booze and Guns" tonight (9:30 p.m. ET) or the "All Butt Certain" espisode on its Forensic Files Saturday (11 p.m. ET). Or not.)

The TNT additions inevitably led to subtractions. Dick Enberg, now a San Diego Padres announcer, wasn't expected to return. And ESPN's Jay Bilas won't continue moonlighting on NCAA games. Says CBS' McManus: "His deal with ESPN precluded us him from joining our coverage."

CBS' Jim Nantz and Clark Kellogg return on the lead announcing team with TNT's Steve Kerr to call the Final Four games. TNT's Marv Albert and Reggie Miller will, each getting new CBS partners, will call games.

In the studio, Barkley will appear with TNT partner Kenny Smith and CBS' Greg Anthony, with TNT's Reggie Miller and CBS' Seth Davis joining them in the second week. TNT's Ernie Johnson and CBS' Greg Gumbel will share hosting duties.

Turner's Levy expects TNT's NBA announcers to get on-air practice on college games before the tournament and that NCAA action won't crimp TNT's NBA coverage, which has just one of its regular Thursday night doubleheaders during the tournament anyway: "It's not li