Fee-Based Component Coming To March Madness Online Coverage

Turner Sports is dramatically reworking its online coverage of the upcoming NCAA men's basketball tournament to include a distribution plan that features a fee-based component. The new March Madness Live, rebranded from March Madness On Demand, will work primarily on a TV Everywhere-based model in which games will still be available for free streaming online on an authenticated basis. For example, a tournament game shown on TBS can also be seen live and for free online by fans who get TBS on their cable or satellite system, and authenticate themselves through the channel's website.

Fans who either cannot authenticate, or choose not to do so, can buy a $3.99 all-access pass that includes coverage of all 67 tournament games across all major digital platforms and includes live statistics and social media integration. Tournament games shown on CBS will remain free online at CBSSports.com.