If you are like me, living out of the Pittsburgh area, you look forward to the NCAA tournament but with a sense of annoyance already in place. Why? Because you know you won’t get to see Pitt’s first tournament game and likely their second round game (assuming they advance) unless they happen to play a team that is deemed the best fit for your media market. There is the option of spending $60 for the CBS March Madness package (assuming you have the Dish or they make it available through cable). For me, the wife would veto that in a heartbeat. What does she care? She knows her team — Cinci — will get shown locally. That is why this is exciting:
College Sports Television (www.cstv.com) has secured a multi-year agreement with CBS SportsLine.com and the NCAA for the exclusive video streaming rights for out of market game coverage of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship beginning with the upcoming 2005 tournament. Fans will be able to watch the live CBS Sports NCAA Tournament broadcasts from outside their area on their computers, following the action as it is broadcast by CBS Sports announcers such as Jim Nantz, Billy Packer and Bill Raftery.
Beginning March 17th, NCAA March Madness on Demand, powered by CSTV.com, will provide the most personalized, interactive online experience of any sporting event.
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NCAA March Madness on Demand,powered by CSTV.com, will offer live and on-demand streaming video of up to the first 56 NCAA Tournament games on an out-of-market basis, through the regional semi-finals, and will also feature streaming video of interviews and pre-and post-game press conferences, in addition to video highlights. Webcasts of games broadcast by CBS Sports in fans’ local markets will be subject to blackouts.
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Subscription packages are priced at $19.95. Fans purchasing subscriptions by February 8 will receive a 50% discount. Fans can log on to CSTV.com, CBS SportsLine.com and NCAASports.com for additional NCAA March Madness on Demand, powered by CSTV.com,subscription information.
[Emphasis Added.]
Haven’t found where to sign up on the sites, yet, or I would have already done so. This is an obvious boon, also to those who have to work, but want to see the game. Not that anyone is endorsing such a strategy. Just one more way to reduce productivity during the first week of March Madness.
UPDATE: Found order info here.
