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CBS Pushes NFL to Stream Super Bowl 2010 Online
Ian Paul, PC World
June 7, 2009
CBS wants to offer a live online video stream of next year's Super Bowl XLIV from Miami and the NFL just might say yes. This isn't your usual tech rumor, either; the announcement that CBS, the official broadcaster for Super Bowl XLIV, wants to stream the mega-popular sporting event comes from CBS Interactive President Quincy Smith, according to Business Week. In the same report, Brian Rolapp, the NFL's senior vice-president for media strategy, says the NFL "would be open" to CBS' proposal. That's not a firm guarantee, but with two named sources from CBS and the NFL openly discussing the idea, Super Bowl streaming may be just around the corner even if we don't see it in 2010.
The possibility of the Super Bowl hitting the Web comes on the heels of recent successes for CBS and its online sports programming. During its television broadcasts of NCAA basketball's March Madness 2009, CBS hauled in millions of dollars from big-ticket advertisers. Even more shocking is the claim that the network managed a modest, ad-supported profit from its online streaming of the college tournament (in 2008 for the first time; this year the stream also went to the iPhone).
While other online content streaming sites may be struggling to make money online, CBS and others are finding that live sports can bring in some money from online audiences. Since it's a live event, fans are already more tolerant of online commercials during half-time and time outs, Arash Amel, broadband analyst for the research firm Screen Digest told Business Week. Amel also said those same sports fans taking in ads during games usually grate at seeing too many commercials while streaming an episode of their favorite television program.
The ability to watch sports online is also a privilege that some are willing to pay for. Major League Baseball has been working on its MLB.TV venture for three years now, and while it's a little rough around the edges it is a very competent service. The NHL has also been dipping its toes in the online streaming waters with the NHL GameCenter Live and the NBA has its League Pass for international online viewers.
Even the NFL offers live online streaming for football fans outside of North America and the United Kingdom through its NFL GamePass. Gridiron fans also got a treat when the NFL and NBC streamed Sunday Night Football to U.S. residents during the 2008-2009 regular season. The NFL found that online streaming was largely used by millions of viewers as a supplement to the television broadcast, Rolapp told Business Week. That's not surprising to me, since I was one of the millions using the online stream to get different game angles while also keeping my television tuned to the NBC broadcast.
Streaming the Super Bowl would be a smart move for the NFL. Let's face it; there are already many illegitimate streaming sites where you can view most major professional sports. NBC learned that lesson during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. The network embraced the Internet by streaming and posting thousands of hours of Olympic coverage online; however, it was taken by surprise when U.S. viewers had numerous options to watch the more popular Olympic sports online before their scheduled broadcast time on NBC. For the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, NBC plans an authentication wall for cable subscribers, which will inevitably push those who want to see the Olympics via the web to the multitude of rogue streaming sites.
NBC's authentication wall is the wrong move. The network is only setting itself up for defeat in a battle that other content producers like the record labels and movie studios are already losing. By embracing the Web and providing high-quality, accessible streams for major sporting events, broadcasters will bring viewers in droves to their sites and may find they are enhancing, not cannibalizing, their television audience.
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Childress puts deadline on Favre decision
By Gregg Rosenthal
June 8, 2009
Brett Favre doesn't seem to be in a hurry to make a decision about his NFL future. If he was, he probably would have undergone arthroscopic shoulder surgery earlier than late May to ready himself for the 2009 season.
The Vikings, however, suddenly seem to be getting antsy. ESPN.com reported Monday that Vikings coach Brad Childress has set a deadline of this week for Favre to decide whether he's going to play in Minnesota.
Why the rush now? If Childress is trying to show who's boss, he's picking a strange time for it.
The Vikings are winding down their pre-training camp practices this week. Very little will happen as a team between now and late July, so it makes sense for the Vikings and Favre in the health of his shoulder before getting hitched.
Favre famously hates surgery of any kind, so his decision to go under the knife indicates he'll do everything possible to return to football. And the Vikings clearly prefer Favre to Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson or they wouldn't be going through all this.
Favre will increase his post-surgery throwing over the next week. But he's reportedly reluctant to commit to returning until he's sure that he's eliminated all all of his problems related to his torn biceps tendon. This is one time where his caution seems well-founded.
Childress has put himself in a potentially vulnerable situation. Let's say Favre ignores the deadline until he feels comfortable with his shoulder, then says he wants to play three weeks from now. Would Childress really turn him down then?
NFL writers are cheering this news, because it appears we'll have a resolution shortly. Considering this is Brett Favre, I wouldn't be so sure.
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Harrison Joining NBC Studio Crew
By Tom Curran
June 3, 2009 9:19 AM
Patriots safety Rodney Harrison, who announced his retirement during a conference call this morning, is joining NBC's Football Night in America team.
Harrison and former Colts coach Tony Dungy will be announced as the latest additions to the FNIA crew during a noon press conference.
Harrison, a 36-year-old, two-time All-Pro made his reputation as one of the hardest-hitting and most passionate players in the league. His style of playing up to (and through) the whistle also earned him a reputation as one of the league's nastiest players.
Asked how if he can bring similar verbal aggression to his analysis, Harrison said this morning, "My goal is just being tough and honest and telling it like it is.
When you're honest, sometimes people may not like it, but they also knowyou won't fabricate anything. I am a fan of the game and I respect the game and the players in it. But I will always tell the truth and I think people will appreciate that."
Harrison worked for NBC during February's Super Bowl pregame and spent time this offseason on the NFL Network.
Stepping into his new role, "gives you an opportunity to stay close to the game and forces you to watch film - which has never been a problem for me."
The lure, Harrison said is, "Being able to watch games and create an overall picture for fans about what goes on inside and outside the locker room. 'Why did a guy get burned?' 'How can a Patriots defense be exploited or a Cleveland offense?' It about explaining to both the regular Joe who sits for 10 hours watching games on Sunday or the mom who walks in Sunday night and watches for two minutes why things happen."
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