-By Mike Shields
In what could serve as a major boost to mobile video usage, CBS
Sports and the NCAA have announced a deal with MobiTV to bring live
games from next week’s NCAA men's basketball tournament to Apple’s
iPhone and iTouch.
The companies have collaborated to launch what they’re calling The
NCAA March Madness on Demand iPhone and iPod touch application. The
downloadable app—which runs $4.99--will provide hoops junkies with
the ability to stream live all 63 games of the tournament via their
iPhone and iTouch devices—as long as they have access to a wi-fi
connection. The app employs technology developed by mobile video
pioneer MobiTV, which has long delivered live TV to mobile devices
via subscription packages through carriers such as Sprint.
Though the availability of mobile video, including premium
broadcast programming, is nothing new, it is still a nascent market
at best. comScore estimates that less than five percent of the cell
phone subscriber universe access video in a given month.
But the explosive growth of the iPhone and iTouch, coupled with the
the intense interest in the NCAA tournament among so many
office-pool-participating fans, could prove to be a catalyst for
the medium. Apple says it sold over 4.3 million iPhones during its
most recent quarter, and some analysts estimate that the company
will sell up to 45 million units in 2009 alone. However, the $4.99
price tag is steep compared to many apps offer on the iPhone, and
the wi-fi requirement may also limit the app’s usefulness for
some.
Besides streaming live games, the March Madness on Demand app will
also provide users with a variety of tournament related content,
include updated scores and brackets, along with game and team
previews from CBSSports.com. During games viewers can also access
live box scores and statistics through an overlay placement—without
interrupting the live video feed.
CBS Sports and the NCAA Cut Pact With MobiTV
Agreement will bring live games from next week’s NCAA men's basketball tournament to Apple’s iPhone and iTouch
March 12, 2009
-By Mike Shields
In what could serve as a major boost to mobile video usage, CBS Sports and the NCAA have announced a deal with MobiTV to bring live games from next week’s NCAA men's basketball tournament to Apple’s iPhone and iTouch.
The companies have collaborated to launch what they’re calling The NCAA March Madness on Demand iPhone and iPod touch application. The downloadable app—which runs $4.99--will provide hoops junkies with the ability to stream live all 63 games of the tournament via their iPhone and iTouch devices—as long as they have access to a wi-fi connection. The app employs technology developed by mobile video pioneer MobiTV, which has long delivered live TV to mobile devices via subscription packages through carriers such as Sprint.
Though the availability of mobile video, including premium broadcast programming, is nothing new, it is still a nascent market at best. comScore estimates that less than five percent of the cell phone subscriber universe access video in a given month.
But the explosive growth of the iPhone and iTouch, coupled with the the intense interest in the NCAA tournament among so many office-pool-participating fans, could prove to be a catalyst for the medium. Apple says it sold over 4.3 million iPhones during its most recent quarter, and some analysts estimate that the company will sell up to 45 million units in 2009 alone. However, the $4.99 price tag is steep compared to many apps offer on the iPhone, and the wi-fi requirement may also limit the app’s usefulness for some.
Besides streaming live games, the March Madness on Demand app will also provide users with a variety of tournament related content, include updated scores and brackets, along with game and team previews from CBSSports.com. During games viewers can also access live box scores and statistics through an overlay placement—without interrupting the live video feed.