CBS Sports President Sean McManus told BLOOMBERG NEWS
that the Internet "can supplement -- not replace --
television coverage." McManus: "The way people watch sports
today -- sitting down in front of a television set passively
-- is the way most people are going to watch sports 20 years
from now." McManus believes networks will "use the Internet
as a supplement in the near future, especially when
technology allows high-quality video to be transmitted on-
line." CBS plans to begin offering video and other services
to college basketball fans through NCAA.com and the network
plans to produce three to four-minute highlights of every
NCAA basketball tournament game that will be available on
the NCAA Web site (Curtis Eichelberger, BLOOMBERG, 12/9).
WEB PATROL: The FINANCIAL POST's Barbara Schecter
writes that the NFL is "threatening to seek fines of up to"
$100,000 per game against Toronto-based iCraveTV.com if it
"beams" NFL games "around the world." NFL Senior Manager of
Corporate Communications Brian McCarthy said that even if
iCraveTV.com shows "even half the games, that would be
$700,000" in fines. McCarthy: "We will be spending some
time this Sunday in front of our computers" (FINANCIAL POST,
12/10). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Joe Flint writes, "This
squabble has broad implications and is being watched closely
by U.S. broadcasters and networks as the industry is
anticipating similar copyright fights with Internet
companies in the U.S." (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/10).
A FAIR PARTNERSHIP? In Chicago, Ed Sherman profiles the
partnership between CBS SportsLine's GolfWeb and the PGA
Tour's official Web site and writes, "The partnership could
have huge ramifications for how sports will be covered on
the Internet. Coverage could come to you through a filter."
CBS SportsLine President of Sales & Marketing Mark Mariani:
"Our job is not to be an investigative site for the PGA
Tour. If we lean on the side of handling the sport syrupy
as opposed to a hard edge, that's OK with me." PGA Tour
Senior VP Donna Orender: "There's an unfortunate perception
that because we have an allegiance, writers won't be able to
put out their slant. That's not the case." Mariani feels
the PGATour.com deal will "be the prototype for sports
Internet sites" in the future. Mariani: "If I'm NFL.com,
how do you sell more ads and reach more people? It only
makes sense to combine assets" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/10).
