Snippet: Big Cable Wins with NCAA March Madness App ☇

Shared on March 15, 2013

Jordan Golson for MacRumors:

Unlike last year, when iOS viewers could make a $3.99 in-app purchase to watch all 67 games, for 2013 they are required to authenticate with their pay-tv provider logins before they can watch games that air on TBS, TNT and truTV. Games aired on CBS will not need authentication. However, users will get a four-hour ‘preview’ window to watch games without authenticating. Live streaming will be available over 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi.

Two years ago, the app and streams were completely free, provided you watched a couple of ads before the stream began. Last year, it was a $3.99 in-app purchase. This year, an arguably innovative and good product is very limited for those on bulk cable accounts (college campuses?) and cord cutters. Plus, the NCAA, Turner Broadcasting, and CBS are leaving money on the table. Poor form—at least the cable provider lineup is rather exhaustive.

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