March Madness online for free - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

Chip R · 12-07-2005, 11:19 AM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/200...sonlineforfree

CBS to offer March Madness online for free
By Jane McManus, The (Westchester, N.Y.) Journal News

For two years, Manhattan athletic director Bob Byrnes is lucky to have heard alumni complaints. It was the natural frustration of graduates who couldn't make the trip to the NCAA men's basketball tournament to see the Jaspers play in person.

Instead, Manhattan fans had to catch the game on television in the middle of the day or, if out of market, pay for an internet broadcast or DirecTV.

"When you're in the tournament, people do all kinds of gymnastics to try and get the game," Byrnes said.

This year it all just got a little bit easier, especially for diehard fans who inexplicably decide to spend the day at work with NCAA March Madness on Demand, a streaming webcast. CBS had been offering the games online as part of a subscription, but this year the NCAA Tournament will be available for free at NCAAsports.com.

"I think that was the evolution of this product," said Mike Aresco, senior vice president for programming at CBS Sports. "We felt that ultimately the future of online streaming would be on an ad-supported basis."

The webcasts will be free through the regional semifinals, and there will be web blackouts for games aired in local television markets. Press conferences and highlights are also part of the package.

Aresco doesn't think this will take away from television ratings, or erode subscribers to the Direct TV package because viewers tend to watch something online if they are already in front of a computer - but they watch television if they are home. This applies not only to office workers, but college students as well.

Hence the boon for those who lament that the first Thursday and Friday of the tournament are not national holidays.

CBS is paying $6 billion over 11 years to broadcast the tournament, and internet rights were a big part of the package. Aresco said tournament ratings have not been negatively affected by development of a DirecTV package or subscription to the webcasts, which were far fewer in number.

"What we are looking to do is figure out how many platforms are feasible to place content on," Aresco said.

It is less a money-earner than a technology and marketing test, an opportunity to see if free content can attract enough viewers to pull in advertising revenue.

OldRightHander · 12-07-2005, 11:35 AM

It would be nice if other sports would follow suit. Currently the only pro sport that allows free listening online is the NHL. It's kind of lame to pay for the internet and then to have to pay separately for content. It would be like paying for cable and then having to pay extra just to watch any programming.

Puffy · 12-07-2005, 12:49 PM

Oh great - I won't get any work done tourney time.

Caveat Emperor · 12-07-2005, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chip R

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/200...sonlineforfree

CBS to offer March Madness online
"I think that was the evolution of this product," said Mike Aresco, senior vice president for programming at CBS Sports. "We felt that ultimately the future of online streaming would be on an ad-supported basis."

TRANSLATION: We weren't selling enough subscriptions to the service to make it worth our while, and this is a way of generating more money by selling spots online and hoping a lot of people watch.

KronoRed · 12-07-2005, 05:56 PM

Nice

Sure the little blurry window sucks, but better then being forced to watch Uk and UC over and over again

Cyclone792 · 12-07-2005, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KronoRed

Nice

Sure the little blurry window sucks, but better then being forced to watch Uk and UC over and over again

I'm a UC alum and fan, and though it pains me to say this, I don't think you'll be forced to watch UC in the tourney for quite awhile.

Chip R · 12-08-2005, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyclone792

I'm a UC alum and fan, and though it pains me to say this, I don't think you'll be forced to watch UC in the tourney for quite awhile.

What do you mean? I think they will do well in the tourney this year - the National Invitational Tourney, that is.

Redsfaithful · 12-08-2005, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chip R

What do you mean? I think they will do well in the tourney this year - the National Invitational Tourney, that is.

I'm not entirely sure they'll make it to that either.

12-07-2005, 11:19 AM	#1
Chip R Rally Onion! Join Date: May 2000 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 33,227	March Madness online for free http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/200...sonlineforfree CBS to offer March Madness online for free By Jane McManus, The (Westchester, N.Y.) Journal News For two years, Manhattan athletic director Bob Byrnes is lucky to have heard alumni complaints. It was the natural frustration of graduates who couldn't make the trip to the NCAA men's basketball tournament to see the Jaspers play in person. Instead, Manhattan fans had to catch the game on television in the middle of the day or, if out of market, pay for an internet broadcast or DirecTV. "When you're in the tournament, people do all kinds of gymnastics to try and get the game," Byrnes said. This year it all just got a little bit easier, especially for diehard fans who inexplicably decide to spend the day at work with NCAA March Madness on Demand, a streaming webcast. CBS had been offering the games online as part of a subscription, but this year the NCAA Tournament will be available for free at NCAAsports.com. "I think that was the evolution of this product," said Mike Aresco, senior vice president for programming at CBS Sports. "We felt that ultimately the future of online streaming would be on an ad-supported basis." The webcasts will be free through the regional semifinals, and there will be web blackouts for games aired in local television markets. Press conferences and highlights are also part of the package. Aresco doesn't think this will take away from television ratings, or erode subscribers to the Direct TV package because viewers tend to watch something online if they are already in front of a computer - but they watch television if they are home. This applies not only to office workers, but college students as well. Hence the boon for those who lament that the first Thursday and Friday of the tournament are not national holidays. CBS is paying $6 billion over 11 years to broadcast the tournament, and internet rights were a big part of the package. Aresco said tournament ratings have not been negatively affected by development of a DirecTV package or subscription to the webcasts, which were far fewer in number. "What we are looking to do is figure out how many platforms are feasible to place content on," Aresco said. It is less a money-earner than a technology and marketing test, an opportunity to see if free content can attract enough viewers to pull in advertising revenue. __________________ The Rally Onion wants 150 fans before Opening Day. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rally-...24872650873160

12-07-2005, 11:35 AM	#2
OldRightHander Resident optimist Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: east of WOY Posts: 5,029	Re: March Madness online for free It would be nice if other sports would follow suit. Currently the only pro sport that allows free listening online is the NHL. It's kind of lame to pay for the internet and then to have to pay separately for content. It would be like paying for cable and then having to pay extra just to watch any programming.

12-07-2005, 12:49 PM	#3
Puffy Puffy 3:16 Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Panama City Beach Posts: 13,669	Re: March Madness online for free Oh great - I won't get any work done tourney time. __________________ "I came here to kick ass and chew bubble gum... and I'm all out of bubble gum." - - Rowdy Roddy Piper "It takes a big man to admit when he is wrong. I am not a big man" - - Fletch

12-07-2005, 05:56 PM	#5
KronoRed The Lineups stink. Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: West N. Carolina Posts: 55,344	Re: March Madness online for free Nice Sure the little blurry window sucks, but better then being forced to watch Uk and UC over and over again __________________ Go Gators!

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