ESPN has “figured out how to get in on the action” during March Madness, with Bill Simmons “offering up commentary during the tournament’s first two days, live, via a YouTube link,” according to Peter Kafka of ALL THINGS DIGITAL. Simmons will “host the video stream from his house, along with a cast of characters from his Grantland universe," including ESPN's Jalen Rose and Grantland writer Rembert Browne. The idea “isn’t to compete with the games themselves, but to offer up pre- and post-game commentary at preset times, along with the option of breaking in live if something merits a pop-in.” Simmons wrote in an e-mail, “We want this to feel like a looser, more irreverent studio show. Like a live podcast where people feel like they are hanging out with us while watching basketball. I have no idea if this will work but we like trying new things at Grantland.” Kafka noted ESPN “isn’t attaching ads to the streams, but I can imagine that if it works out, they might try that down the road.” The shows are to be aired from 11:30-12:15pm ET; 1:30-1:45pm; and 6:10-6:50pm (ALLTHINGSD.com, 3/19).
