CBS Sports and Apple Offer 2006 NCAA Basketball on iTunes

MacRumors · Mar 14, 2006, 06:03 PM

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CBS and Apple announced today that they would be offering the 2006 NCAA Division I Basketball Championship on the iTunes Music Store.

For $1.99, users can individually purchase condensed versions of all of the 2006 NCAA Championship games. Apple is also offering a "Season Pass" which allows people to pre-purchase all 63 games for $19.99. Games will be available the day after they are broadcast.

Quote:

"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 semifinal and championship game will be provided as "full-length" versions.

zap2 · Mar 14, 2006, 06:07 PM

come on CSI:

Get one iTunes!

m-dogg · Mar 14, 2006, 06:07 PM

Hmmm...that $19.99 pass may not be too bad. But what exactly will condensed versions of the games be? 2 minutes? 20 minutes?

Didn't they do something like this with the 2005 bowl games? Did anyone buy those?

VanMac · Mar 14, 2006, 06:11 PM

Not a b-ball fan, but cool nonetheless. Keep it rolling aapl.

anonicon · Mar 14, 2006, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macrumors

"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."

I'm sure others will dig this, but for me, blah.

I'm not really down with paying for highlight reels, but I'd gladly pay iTunes $1.99 to $5.99 for full-length games that were of particular interest to me. Besides the Buckeyes (I'm a fan), I'd also enjoy buying the full games of big upsets and down-to-the-wire contests.

Now if only they'd restore the great game films of the Lakers and Celtics from the 1980's - when they knew how to run a fast break in the NBA.

NEENAHBOY · Mar 14, 2006, 06:12 PM

OK, who voted negative already?

1macker1 · Mar 14, 2006, 06:15 PM

I'd like the full version of some of the games. Even if I had to pay more, but a condensed version is a no-go.

Sam* · Mar 14, 2006, 06:16 PM

$19.99 is really good for 63 games i think

Think at $1.99 for 63 episodes thats about $126 so $19.99 is a bargin

illw!l · Mar 14, 2006, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m-dogg

Hmmm...that $19.99 pass may not be too bad. But what exactly will condensed versions of the games be? 2 minutes? 20 minutes?

Didn't they do something like this with the 2005 bowl games? Did anyone buy those?

Didnt buy the bowl games but they are around 15-20 mins apiece, which in my mind, isnt enough to cover the "big" bowl games. A 15-20 followup should be good for the early rounds while the full length games at the end will be really nice.

I would like to see the CBS / CSTV / Apple relationship blossom quickly to extend coverage of CSTV college football plan. Currently, for 6.95/mo I can watch all UCF sports coverage, however I would prefer to pay 1.99 per game televised by CSTV (last season had 7 games on CSTV). That way I can keep the videos and display on my tv should I prefer to do so.

boncellis · Mar 14, 2006, 06:18 PM

This is awesome, for both the content and the implication. Will CBS revisit the possibility of offering its shows in the iTMS as a result? Seems like they have at least taken it into consideration.

The cool thing about the NCAA Tournament is that there is usually a crazy game that gets a lot of buzz and that people remember for years. Now, if I can only catch on to which games those are without actually knowing how the outcome played out...

swingerofbirch · Mar 14, 2006, 06:28 PM

Apple would have to pay ME to watch sports...no matter how condensed they claim it is, I say sports are boring to watch and frightful to play.

nicksoper · Mar 14, 2006, 06:30 PM

The season pass is a pretty good deal. I'm not a basketball fan (anymore) but if the ASP (Association of surfing professionals) did the same thing for the world championship tour of surfing I'd hand over my cash straight away. Now I've said it I want it! Now!

This is a great was to make the highlights of the sport more accessible. Keep it all coming.

Nicko

PharmD · Mar 14, 2006, 06:32 PM

I think this is a great idea since I don't have near the time to watch every game.

nicksoper · Mar 14, 2006, 06:32 PM

Hey,

Cage fighting? Being chased by bulls? Big wave surfing? Bikini contests? You find these things boring?

And I supopse waiting and watching your macrumours rss feed is so much more riviting? Come on dude.

PS, I find tennis very boring to watch. But I don't like to generalise, at the risk of sounding predjadice.

kjs862 · Mar 14, 2006, 06:38 PM

Cool when is the first game and who's playing ?

cycocelica · Mar 14, 2006, 06:42 PM

$19.99 for 63 games? Damn good price. This is also a good thing because if their are really good games, I would not mind watching the highlights again.

cycocelica · Mar 14, 2006, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjs862

Cool when is the first game and who's playing ?

Well Mammouth and Hampton play tonight for the 16th seed. But real play gets underway on Thursday.

TheMasin9 · Mar 14, 2006, 06:45 PM

i swear, apple is never going to run out of content for the music store, as long as there are new shows, sports WHATEVER its gonna be good

Shaker · Mar 14, 2006, 06:52 PM

This is great news for Apple. Finally they land a big contract with CBS.

Peace · Mar 14, 2006, 06:53 PM

CBS and Apple getting together to put CBS content on iTunes can only be seen as the start of more content from CBS..

The NCAA games is pretty nice too!!

Mac Fly (film) · Mar 14, 2006, 06:56 PM

I've no interest, but that's good value!

To the future!

Porchland · Mar 14, 2006, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boncellis

This is awesome, for both the content and the implication. Will CBS revisit the possibility of offering its shows in the iTMS as a result? Seems like they have at least taken it into consideration.

I'm hoping this CBS Sports announcement means Apple and CBS have already reached a broader content deal.

With the technology and access details involved in putting the NCAA Tournament on iTunes, this deal wasn't cut yesterday. If Apple and CBS have a bigger deal, we'll find out during the next Apple event. April 1 or whenever.

Has a date for that been formally announced?

Porchland · Mar 14, 2006, 07:19 PM

There's a Keifer Southerland Celebrity Playlist out today, and there was one from Jerry Bruckheimer in January.

Fred Armisen's list came out (IIRC) a week or two before "SNL" became available on iTunes.

Are Keifer Southerland and Jerry Bruckheimer hinting at CBS and Fox television deals?

The head of Fox has made some limp-wristed comments about iTunes in the last several months, so who knows.

runninmac · Mar 14, 2006, 07:57 PM

Wow what a great deal! ~31 cents a game! Im liking this season/multi pass deal!

bcsmith · Mar 14, 2006, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swingerofbirch

Apple would have to pay ME to watch sports...no matter how condensed they claim it is, I say sports are boring to watch and frightful to play.

I love comments like this. It doesn't really add anything to the discussion and is purely here so that the poster can hear him/herself typing...

If you don't like sports, just move along. You knew that the article was about sports. I'm going to guess that you figured most of the comments would be about sports. If you don't like sports, why did you follow the link to the story?

And yes, I know that this is the same kind of comment.

Mar 14, 2006, 06:07 PM	#2
zap2 macrumors 601 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NJ	come on CSI: Get one iTunes! __________________ "We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by." Will Rogers

Mar 14, 2006, 06:11 PM	#4
VanMac macrumors 6502a Join Date: May 2005 Location: Rampaging Tokyo	Not a b-ball fan, but cool nonetheless. Keep it rolling aapl. __________________ Broken Arrow Ranch Chervic Technologies Inc. 17" MBP 2.6GHz C2D HDef 200GB_7200 2GB RAM 80GB iPod Classic Broken Arrow Ranch

Mar 14, 2006, 06:18 PM	#10
boncellis macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Salt Lake City	This is awesome, for both the content and the implication. Will CBS revisit the possibility of offering its shows in the iTMS as a result? Seems like they have at least taken it into consideration. The cool thing about the NCAA Tournament is that there is usually a crazy game that gets a lot of buzz and that people remember for years. Now, if I can only catch on to which games those are without actually knowing how the outcome played out... __________________ * PB Rev. E * 4G iPod

Mar 14, 2006, 06:30 PM	#12
nicksoper macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cape Town	The season pass is a pretty good deal. I'm not a basketball fan (anymore) but if the ASP (Association of surfing professionals) did the same thing for the world championship tour of surfing I'd hand over my cash straight away. Now I've said it I want it! Now! This is a great was to make the highlights of the sport more accessible. Keep it all coming. Nicko __________________ Nicksoper.com My Surf Photo's Blog

Mar 14, 2006, 06:32 PM	#13
PharmD macrumors 6502 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA	I think this is a great idea since I don't have near the time to watch every game. __________________ The Fullmetal Pharmacist

Mar 14, 2006, 06:07 PM	#3
m-dogg macrumors 65816 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Connecticut	Hmmm...that $19.99 pass may not be too bad. But what exactly will condensed versions of the games be? 2 minutes? 20 minutes? Didn't they do something like this with the 2005 bowl games? Did anyone buy those?

Mar 14, 2006, 06:12 PM	#6
NEENAHBOY macrumors 6502 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Chicago, IL	OK, who voted negative already?

Mar 14, 2006, 06:15 PM	#7
1macker1 Banned Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: A Higher Level	I'd like the full version of some of the games. Even if I had to pay more, but a condensed version is a no-go.

Mar 14, 2006, 06:16 PM	#8
Sam* macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: UK	$19.99 is really good for 63 games i think Think at $1.99 for 63 episodes thats about $126 so $19.99 is a bargin

Mar 14, 2006, 06:28 PM	#11
swingerofbirch macrumors 68000 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: The Amalgamated States of Central North America	Apple would have to pay ME to watch sports...no matter how condensed they claim it is, I say sports are boring to watch and frightful to play.

Mar 14, 2006, 06:32 PM	#14
nicksoper macrumors member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cape Town	Sports are boring? Hey, Cage fighting? Being chased by bulls? Big wave surfing? Bikini contests? You find these things boring? And I supopse waiting and watching your macrumours rss feed is so much more riviting? Come on dude. PS, I find tennis very boring to watch. But I don't like to generalise, at the risk of sounding predjadice. __________________ Nicksoper.com My Surf Photo's Blog

Mar 14, 2006, 06:38 PM	#15
kjs862 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Long Island	Cool when is the first game and who's playing ? __________________ Power Mac G5 Dual 2.0Ghz (1 Gen), 6.5GB Ram, X800XT, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Mar 14, 2006, 06:42 PM	#16
cycocelica macrumors 68000 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Redmond, WA	$19.99 for 63 games? Damn good price. This is also a good thing because if their are really good games, I would not mind watching the highlights again. __________________ Seattle sports = fail

Mar 14, 2006, 06:45 PM	#18
TheMasin9 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Wright State University	itunes content i swear, apple is never going to run out of content for the music store, as long as there are new shows, sports WHATEVER its gonna be good __________________ 15" Powerbook G4 1.5 ghz Mac Pro Dual Quad 2.8 ghz Nikon D50 PSWii60 on my 42" lcd

Mar 14, 2006, 06:52 PM	#19
Shaker macrumors member Join Date: Apr 2004	This is great news for Apple. Finally they land a big contract with CBS. __________________ 2.16 GHz White Macbook \| Dreaming of a new iMac

Mar 14, 2006, 06:53 PM	#20
Peace macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: On top of the Storm Peaks waiting for the Time-Lost Proto Drake	CBS and Apple getting together to put CBS content on iTunes can only be seen as the start of more content from CBS.. The NCAA games is pretty nice too!!

Mar 14, 2006, 06:56 PM	#21
Mac Fly (film) macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ireland	I've no interest, but that's good value! To the future!

Mar 14, 2006, 07:19 PM	#23
Porchland macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Georgia	iTMS hints? There's a Keifer Southerland Celebrity Playlist out today, and there was one from Jerry Bruckheimer in January. Fred Armisen's list came out (IIRC) a week or two before "SNL" became available on iTunes. Are Keifer Southerland and Jerry Bruckheimer hinting at CBS and Fox television deals? The head of Fox has made some limp-wristed comments about iTunes in the last several months, so who knows. __________________ * 17-inch PowerBook, 1.5 GHz G4, OS X 10.5.4 * 2 GB iPod nano silver with Nike+ (his) * 1 GB iPod shuffle pink (hers) Yes we can!

Mar 14, 2006, 07:57 PM	#24
runninmac macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Rockford MI	Wow what a great deal! ~31 cents a game! Im liking this season/multi pass deal! __________________ 2.0 Ghz CoreDuo. 2 GB Ram. 80 Gig HDD. Black MacBook

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