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Interactive College Football Programming to Debut on CBS

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

CBS and WebTV Networks, Inc. will deliver interactive college football games to subscribers of Microsoft's WebTV Plus or UltimateTV services, marking the network's first opportunity to provide viewers with an interactive television experience. The announcement follows an agreement earlier this year between CBS and Microsoft Corp. The service will be promoted on WebTV Networks and will feature interactive content such as live polling, team stats, and player profiles. The first interactive game, Auburn at Alabama, will air on CBS on November 18.

Key Takeaways:

  • CBS anticipates delivering approximately 500 hours of interactive television programming during the 2000-01 season.
  • The service will be available to subscribers of Microsoft's WebTV Plus or UltimateTV services.
  • Interactive features will include live polling, team stats, player profiles, and on-demand content such as statistics, bios, and background material on the teams.
  • The service will be promoted on WebTV Networks and will be available to subscribers via remote control.
  • David Katz, vice president of Strategic Planning and Interactive Ventures for CBS Television, stated that interactive college football programming represents CBS's first opportunity to provide viewers with an exciting new television experience.
  • Joe Poletto, vice president of the Network Media Group for WebTV Networks at Microsoft, noted that the company is working directly with network broadcast executives to bring advanced and appealing interactive television capabilities to America's sports fans.

Statistics:

  • 500 hours of interactive television programming will be delivered by CBS during the 2000-01 season.
  • The service will be available to subscribers of Microsoft's WebTV Plus or UltimateTV services.
  • The first interactive game, Auburn at Alabama, will air on CBS on November 18.

Sources:

  • CBS Television, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA; VIA.B), and WebTV Networks, Inc. announcement (Nov. 2000)
  • Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT)
  • WebTV Networks, Inc. press release (Nov. 2000)
  • CBS Television, WebTV Networks, Inc., and Microsoft Corp. press release (Nov. 2000)
  • Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA; VIA.B) press release (Nov. 2000)

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