March Madness Pushes CBS Soaps Off Air Temporarily

LOS ANGELES, CA — CBS daytime programming is taking a temporary hiatus as the network gears up for its annual coverage of March Madness, impacting fan-favorite soap operas.

The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young and the Restless, and Beyond the Gates will not air new episodes on March 20 and 21, 2025, as CBS Sports broadcasts NCAA college basketball games. The programming shift is a routine occurrence each year as the network prioritizes the tournament during this period.

Longtime viewers need not worry; this is a familiar interruption. CBS has a long history of scripting various comical March Madness promos featuring the cast of Young and the Restless. In a recent Instagram post, Michelle Stafford and Joshua Morrow, who portray Phyllis and Nick, respectively, highlighted the show’s spirit with enthusiastic promotions. “It’s irresistible!” declared Morrow in the fun clip.

While sports fans might rejoice, soap aficionados can look forward to their beloved shows returning on March 24. The hiatus comes after Beyond the Gates experienced notable success since its premiere last month, and fans of Bold and Beautiful are eagerly awaiting its return, especially as the show is preparing to celebrate its 38th anniversary on March 23.

“Not even March Madness can stop that!” a source from CBS noted, underscoring the network’s dedication to hallmark moments in soap history.

Additionally, CBS will be airing diverse round-the-clock basketball games, starting at 12:15 PM ET and closing around midnight, with a scheduled break for local programming and CBS Evening News. This football scheduling has resulted in significant changes across CBS, affecting not only daytime soap operas but also scripted prime-time lineup shows such as Ghosts.

Ghosts is also on a hiatus, with its Season 4, Episode 17 slated to return on April 3, 2025. The network has chosen to eliminate reruns of scripted programming during the break, focusing solely on live broadcasting for the duration.

While these temporary disruptions may frustrate CBS soap fans, they also present an opportunity for viewers to catch up on episodes they may have missed, with all series available for streaming on Paramount+. Fans will need to stay tuned as they navigate the pauses in programming but can rest assured their beloved shows will be back just in time for exciting narrative arcs.