Apple brings NCAA basketball to iTunes

CBS Sports and Apple today announced they will bring the 2006 NCAA Division I Basketball Championship distributed by CBS Corp's College Sports TV (CSTV) to the iTunes Music Store. The companies announced that for the first time ever, college basketball fans can pay $1.99 per game for condensed versions of all the 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball championship games. Customers can also choose the new "Season Pass" feature on iTunes for $19.99, and receive condensed versions of all 63 games the day after they are played for viewing on a computer or iPod. Full-length versions of this year's semifinals and championship game, as well as compilations of buzzer beaters, upsets and memorable championship games from past NCAA Tournaments will also be available on iTunes.

"We're thrilled to bring all of the 2006 NCAA Tournament action to college basketball fans on iTunes," said Eddy Cue, Apple's vice president of iTunes. "With the new 'Season Pass' feature, fans can purchase and view highlights from every tournament game the day after it airs for just $1.99 per game or $19.99 for the whole tournament."

The new "Season Pass" feature on iTunes allows users to purchase the entire 2006 NCAA Tournament. Every game will automatically be placed in a customer's download queue the day after it airs on CBS. Customers will be notified about new game highlights as they become available via email, and can be downloaded once they log into iTunes.

In its first major deal since being acquired by CBS, and as a part of the Company's strategy to enhance its relationship with college sports fans, CSTV, in partnership with CBS Sports, will produce the condensed versions of CBS Sports' broadcasts. CSTV also will provide expert analysis and commentary on each game of the package, as well as utilize its vast collection of 250 college sports web sites to market the service to sports fans all over the country.

"Having the ability to watch condensed versions of every tournament game on your iPod brings a unique, new dimension to the NCAA March Madness experience," said Brian Bedol, president and CEO of CSTV. "The ability to watch 'games-to-go' that fans otherwise might have missed as their favorite teams travel down the Road to the Final Four is a great example of how CSTV continues to innovate and improve the college sports fan's experience."

The new highlight packages will feature condensed versions of all the games of the 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, as well as full-length versions of the National Semifinals and Championship Game. In addition, Thought Equity (www.thoughtequity.com), in conjunction with CSTV, is producing compilations of buzzer beaters, upsets and memorable championship games, which are included in classic game packages.

Among those games are Duke's win over Kentucky in 1992 on Christian Laettner's last-second shot in the regional final; Jim Valvano's North Carolina State team that shocked Houston to win the 1983 NCAA Championship; North Carolina's victory over Georgetown from Michael Jordan's game-winning basket in 1982 to win the championship title; and Syracuse's freshman sensation Carmelo Anthony leading his team over Kansas to its first ever championship title in 2003.

Filed under: iPod