The “one-stop shopping” nature of Facebook Live attracted the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) to partner with the social media platform and broadcast the annual college basketball tournament, the first such initiative of its kind.
According to Joe Dwyer, President of College Insider, Inc., the ability for fans to watch video features, full interviews and games without leaving the social platform made it an “easy decision” for him and his colleagues to live stream the 32-team CIT via Facebook Live.
“This is the future. Your audience is no longer limited to local markets and what your cable provider offers,” Dwyer said. “The vast majority of people who watch college sports have a Facebook account. If they don’t, they can easily create an account and begin watching. That option isn’t always available if events are broadcast on traditional television.
“We have a great event, which can now be seen by a much greater audience.”
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At minimum, 28 games will be broadcast exclusively on Facebook Live, including all first round, second round and quarterfinal matchups while the CIT semifinals and championship game will continue to air on CBS Sports. On Sunday, March 12, a 10-person selection committee will select the CIT field, with the first round beginning the next day.
In the past 12 months, Facebook has made a concerted effort to marry “Live” with college athletics and high school sports, partnering with the Atlantic 10 Conference for 10 to 15 men’s basketball games during the current season.
Additionally, last November, Mercer University became the first school to broadcast a Division I athletics event exclusively on the platform as it broadcast a home men’s college basketball game against Davidson. Throughout the fall, Facebook and sports media company Bleacher Report also live streamed three high school football games as well via the newer medium.
With the growing emphasis around amateur sports, especially college basketball, could the NCAA men’s basketball tournament be next in line, too, for a similar Facebook Live experience?