CBS Sports, CSTV expand reach of March Madness VOD; TVN plays key role

CBS Sports and CBS College Sports Network (CSTV) will produce customized highlights of all 63 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball games and other content for VOD. And this year it has added 13 additional video providers to deliver the VOD content: Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, Verizon, Charter, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Midcontinent Communications, RCN Corporation, Wave Broadband and Astound Broadband, Sunflower Broadband, HTC and Bright House Networks have signed on to be a part of this exclusive NCAA March Madness programming offer.

CBS also inked a deal TVN Entertainment who will distribute the NCAA
March Madness Highlights within hours of each game’s original airing
using its TVNow fast turnaround service. CBS Sports and CBS College
Sports Network will use TVN’s asset delivery and management platform,
ADONISS 2, and its PRI web-based metadata management toolset. The
system allows users to actively track content, view menu structures,
and change metadata.

“Few sporting events rival the audience numbers, excitement and
interest generated by CBS Sports’ coverage of NCAA March Madness,” said
Matt, Cohen, senior vice president of TVN Entertainment. “Our ability
to provide swift turnaround as well as dynamic asset management of this
marquis VOD programming, is part of TVN’s commitment to move on demand
from a static to an interactive service for operators and programmers
alike.”
The comprehensive content will be available in standard definition and, in some areas, high definition, and distributed through participating video distributor’s VOD platforms, providing fans with complete coverage of all the March Madness action. The VOD programming includes NCAA March Madness Highlights, a daily recap of every game featuring extensive highlights along with select post game interviews and team press conferences. NCAA March Madness Highlights will be made available daily, giving fans immediate access to 63 tournament contests and the ability to search for specific games.

“Given the competitive landscape video providers face, they must ‘wow’ their subscribers. Virtually every major video distributor is participating in this offering and they agree NCAA March Madness Highlights is the perfect marriage of technology and content,” said Bob Rose, Executive Vice President, Distribution CBS College Sports Network. “There are millions of fans who only have five minutes of free time, and now have a chance to watch the highlights they crave when and how they want.”

The exclusive VOD content also features fully-produced NCAA March Madness Memories. Each program will include moments from 25 of the greatest games from previous NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championships, pulled from archived NCAA game and related footage. NCAA March Madness Memories will be available to customers beginning in early March. In addition a post-tournament highlight show will be available following the 2008 Men’s Final Four and National Championship game.