It's that time of year again. Even though the Midwest's permafrost hasn't retreated, March Madness-the NCAA's tournament to determine the nation's top college basketball team--is just around the corner and CBS Sports, Turner Sports and the NCAA are promising fans expanded options for online viewing, even promising an iPad app.
The trio said this year's NCAA March Madness on Demand live products will be available across multiple digital platforms, including online (http://mmod.ncaa.com), as an iPhone and iPod Touch app, and for the first time, as an iPad app. And, as in year's past, every game will be live streamed.
The new 68-team tournament kicks off March 15, and will be broadcast by CBS Sports and Turner Sports. The tournament wraps up April 4 with the championship game in Houston.
The 2011 NCAA March Madness on Demand will be free to users across all platforms, including the full versions of the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch apps over Wi-Fi and 3G. The NCAA March Madness on Demand mobile applications will be available for free starting March 10 from the App Store on iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch located at www.itunes.com/appstore/.
"At Turner Sports we pride ourselves on being a leader in digital innovation and are thrilled to partner with CBS Sports and the NCAA to enhance one of the most popular online properties in sports," said Lenny Daniels, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Turner Sports. "We believe the new components we are offering will give the fan a fully immersive experience through online, mobile and on tablets from the start of the First Four through the final buzzer of the National Championship."
CBSSports.com and the NCAA begn March Madness on Demand in 2003 and have seen viewer numbers explode over the years. Last year, Turner and CBSSports signed a 14-year agreement with the NCAA for Internet and wireless rights to the event. The $10.8 billion deal begins in 2011 and runs through 2024, and will bring every game live to four national networks.
Beginning this year, opening- , first- and second-round games will be shown nationally on CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV. CBS and Turner will split coverage of the regional semi-final games. CBS will provide coverage of the regional finals, as well as the Final Four® including the National Championship Game through 2015. Beginning in 2016, coverage of the regional finals will be split by CBS and Turner with the Final Four and the National Championship game alternating every year between the CBS Television Network and Turner's TBS.
NCAA March Madness on Demand, will continue to be launched from NCAA.com and CBSSports.com. Turner has also secured the rights for any Time Warner digital property. The player will be operated and developed by Turner and have enhanced digital rights allowing the NCAA to deliver content for multiple Turner and Time Warner platforms.
For more:
- see this release
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