YouTube Progresses

YouTube is becoming much more than it once seemed it would ever be. Already by far the most popular online video destination on the Web, serving one billion videos a day, it’s now turning its attentions to professional content as well as the bread and butter of UGC.

YouTube has already done deals with a number of media companies which have added movies and TV content to the site. Channel 4’s 4oD being a prime example. Sporting events are also now being added to the roster.

Indian Premier League Deal

Google has announced a deal with the IPL which will see all 60 matches in the 45-day Indian Premier League cricket tournament broadcast on YouTube.

This is a big deal, as the Indian Premier League is the largest cricket tournament in the world, expected to generate $1.6 billion over the next ten years.

The deal sees YouTube showing the whole tournament in every country around the world with the exception of the United States. This is explained because “re-broadcast options will be available,” in the U.S. I can’t see too many Americans being bother though as cricket isn’t exactly a big deal in the States.

Advertising Revenue

Google and the IPL will share advertising revenue. But Google India clearly has big plans for this event and the sponsors it will likely attract, saying:

“The advertising options on YouTube will be available only for a limited number of sponsors over the course of the season. Companies will have the opportunity to sponsor live streamed matches, match re-broadcasts, and ongoing viewership of clips and highlights. Advertisers will be able to advertise on the YouTube homepage, the live stream page, video ads during the match itself amongst several other innovative formats.”

This is the first live sporting event to be broadcast on YouTube, and I’m wondering how much money Google has paid to secure these almost-worldwide rights.

Conclusions

Although YouTube carried coverage of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, it was only available to watch in countries not covered by television deals. And even in those countries, it was only highlight reels and daily wrap-ups.

This is something much bigger and much more telling for where Google wants to take YouTube in the future.

Below you will find live streaming coverage and a selection of video clips from the 2009 NCAA College Basketball Tournament. We’ll also include links to the top videos of the March Madness games and update this post regularly with the results.

The NCAA Tournament TV and online coverage begins on March 17 with the opening game (Morehead State vs. Alabama State) and ends with the championship game in Detroit, Michigan on April 6. There will be 65 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national men’s NCAA college basketball champions.

Watch The NCAA Tournament Live Online

When games are on you should be able to watch the live coverage in the video player below. If it doesn’t work check the list underneath for alternatives.

Link:

More Streams

• March Madness on Demand – Live streaming coverage from CBS Sports
• March Madness on YouTube – Official CBS/ESPN YouTube Channel
• USAToday.com – Live streaming coverage and highlights from USA Today
• ESPN360.com – full games streaming (mostly available to students and military personnel only)
• Live coverage from Mineshaft @ Ustreamtv
• Live coverage from stickittotheman @ Justin.tv
• Live coverage from badspeed @ Ustream.tv
• Live coverage from Mastersports @ Ustream.tv

Downloads & Hot Videos of the NCAA Tournament

• ESPN College Basketball on iTunes (US link, $1.99/game, $19.99/full tournament)
• ESPN.com videos – Game highlights and news (US)
• Yahoo Sports – NCAA coverage from Yahoo
• Joost – A selection of NCAA video highlights from Joost

Search More

• Search for The NCAA Tournament Online
• Find The NCAA Tournament Torrents
• Graboid (pre-recorded) – Graboid is a very easy to use program that allows you to download pre-recorded videos online through P2P technology. It won’t have live coverage but after the NCAA Tournament will have a number of videos of the events that you can download. (Read more)

Qualifying Teams

(last updated April 2)
Final Four

• Michigan State (2) vs. Connecticut (1)
• Villanova (3) vs. North Carolina (1)

Full list of game details and winners

Highlights from the 2009 NCAA College Basketball Tournament

Coming soon!

NCAA Tournament Products on eBay

NCAA College Basketball 2K3 Xbox 2002 US $.75   0 Bid Auction Ends: 9h 14m Make it yours…

Michigan State 1989 1990 college basketball shirt NCAA vintage Spartans Medium US $9.99   1 Bid Auction Ends: 1d 18m Make it yours…

The NBA is looking to open up its Broadband rights for the coming 2008/2009 season, which begins in late October.

The biggest result of this decision is that games could now be streamed live online locally.

VOD & Streaming

Video streaming would go hand in hand with interactive TV and video on demand coverage, but it’s the one of the three services being launched by the League that would have the biggest impact.

According to Sports Business Journal, the plan would see each team having the right to cut a local deal. So Chicago Bulls fans would be able to watch matches on the Bulls.com website and/or the website of the regional sports networks.

Internet users from outside of the local area would be prevented from watching the matches online by the use of geo-blocking technology.

Paying For Interactive Features

Costing is currently unknown, with each team being able to individually work out whether it wants to show them for free with advertising feeds included or charge for the privilege instead.

Streaming games would include interactive elements such as scores and statistics, and multiple camera angle options. While the video on demand offerings would include replayed games and highlights packages.

These interactive elements are the core reason for the NBA attempting to open up viewing rights as it believes they are key to attracting new fans and keeping younger fans interested for longer periods of time.

Conclusions

Details are currently being hammered out and if this plan were to come to fruition, it would set up an almighty battle between the NBA and the cable and satellite operators who currently enjoy exclusive rights to broadcast games.

The NBA is following in the footsteps of the NFL in embracing the Web. From September, every Sunday Night Football game will be available to watch for free on NBC and other sites.

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From September, fans of American football will be able to watch NFL games live online for free. This is massive news, which signals a significant change of strategy from the National Football League.

The NFL has until now kept a tight rein on the rights to its games, but this move to the Web shows a willingness to move with the times and experiment with Internet streaming.

NBC Streams Live Online

According to the LA Times, NBC will make its television feed of Sunday Night Football, including play by play, and commentary from John Madden, available on multiple websites. Some will be NBC sites, while some will be owned by the league.

Steve Bornstein, chief executive of the NFL Network, called the venture a one year experiment. He refused to discuss financial terms of the deal, but NBC will sell advertising and share the revenue with the NFL. He said:

“We are looking at this as a learning opportunity to see what applications work online. We are trying to be innovative and creative to make the viewing experience better for our fans.”

Excluding The Super Bowl

The online stream will begin with the September 4th game between the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants. It will then feature every Sunday night game, except for the play-offs and the Super Bowl.

It’ll be interesting to see how this venture does, not only in terms of advertising revenue, but also how it affects the traditional television audience.

Whatever happens, this is another indication that the Web is being seen as a viable alternative for viewers who need catering for. NBC is also streaming its coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics online.

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As most of you who have been dwelling on this planet for at least the last four years will already know, the next Olympic Games are being held in Beijing.

This time around however one of the main events seems to be broadband video as there will be blanket coverage of the entire event (yes the whole thing, even the Beach Volleyball) courtesy of NBC Universal.

Of the 3600 hours of coverage planned 2200 of them will be streaming live online over the internet. There are also plans currently being firmed up to provide some wireless coverage that will be unveiled officially some time before the event.

Because of the time differences, for many Olympic enthusiasts, these broadcasts will be in the middle of the night. Still, it’s nice to know that those of us in the western hemisphere will at least have the opportunity to catch our favorite events live.

2008 Olympic Games Sports that You Can Watch

• Archery
• Athletics
• Badminton
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Boxing
• Canoeing
• Cycling
• Diving
• Equestrian
• Fencing
• Field hockey
• Football/Soccer
• Gymnastics
• Handball
• Judo
• Modern pentathlon
• Rowing
• Sailing
• Shooting
• Softball
• Swimming
• Synchronized swimming
• Table tennis
• Taekwondo
• Tennis
• Triathlon
• Volleyball
• Water polo
• Weightlifting
• Wrestling

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