Thursday December 7, 2023

March Madness Live Tries to Entice Viewers

  • In a year where sports TV viewership has dropped across the board, streaming platforms are looking to reach audiences traditional television may have lost.
  • March Madness Live, the NCAA men’s tournament streaming platform, is looking to engage viewers not only with their slate of games, but also a new look and interactive features.
Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports/Design: Alex Brooks
Linkedin
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

In a year where sports TV viewership has dropped across the board, streaming platforms are looking to reach audiences traditional television may have lost.

March Madness Live, the NCAA men’s tournament streaming platform, is looking to engage viewers not only with their slate of games, but also with a new look and interactive features.

“We’re not only the first screen, but we’re also the second screen,” Turner Sports SVP of Digital Hania Poole told FOS.

Live streams during the First Four games saw “double-digit increases” from 2019, according to Turner. In the first week of the tournament, March Madness Live’s “connected device use,” or viewership through platforms like Apple TV or Roku, has grown 5% since 2019.

Viewership for the first weekend of the NCAA men’s tournament in general, however, dipped about 3% since 2019. Poole said before the tournament that she had “modest” expectations this year for viewership, so that isn’t surprising.

Poole’s team has specifically continued to “lean in” to bracket features on the platform, she said. Research found that consumers were more likely to watch games if they were engaged with brackets. “It’s just more connective tissue to the tournament.”

Pandemic cancelations have made it harder for viewers to get into a “rhythm” to watch college basketball, which has made viewership suffer, Poole explained. The absence of “blue bloods” like Duke, Louisville, and Kentucky this year also contributes to the drop.

“Even people who hate Duke like to show up to watch them lose,” Poole said.

Linkedin
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Seven State AGs Sue NCAA Over Transfer Eligibility Rule

They say the NCAA’s one-time transfer reform didn’t go far enough.
Two federal lawmakers from Florida have asked the CFP for more transparency in its decision-making process after FSU's omission from the playoff.

Florida's Federal Lawmakers Are Going After the College Football Playoff

Rep. Gus Bilirakis and Sen. Rick Scott have both made statements.
Five professional sports labor unions have endorse college athletes becoming employees.

Five Pro Sports Unions Endorse College Athlete Employment

The MLBPA, NFLPA, NBPA, NHLPA, and MLSPA weighed in.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

Why the NBA May Have Made Billions With Midseason Tournament

0:00
0:00

Featured Today

The College Football Playoff is considering rotating TV networks for the national championship game.

CFP Considers Super Bowl-Like Rotation For National Championship Game

Multiple networks could share rights to the championship game, sources told FOS.
Brett Favre
November 27, 2023

Favre Welfare Case Hold-Up? "AG’s Office Has Not Expressed Interest In Pursuing"

The DOJ interviewed Brett Favre in early 2020.
The future of the Pac-12 rests on a court decision.
November 24, 2023

The Pac-12 Plays Its Final Regular-Season Game. Then A Court Decides Its Fate.

The conference's future rests with a court decision.
Lane Kiffin
November 9, 2023

Ole Miss, Lane Kiffin Lawyers Argue for Dismissal of Player Lawsuit

FOS obtained audio of Lane Kiffin's interaction with the player behind lawsuit.

Careers

Powered By

Careers in Sports

Looking for a new job? Check out these featured listings and search for openings all over the world.
FanDuel
Multiple Locations
Adidas
Multiple Locations
Creative Artists Agency
Multiple Locations
NCAA President Charlie Baker has proposed new rules that would allow athletes to receive more compensation.

New NCAA Proposal Takes Step Toward Compensating Athletes

It does not allow athletes to become employees, however.
December 3, 2023

After Unbeaten FSU’s Snub, Financial and Legal Fallout

FSU, ACC to take sizable revenue hit despite Seminoles' undefeated season.
JMU football has been spending like a Group of 5 team for years. Now it will play its first bowl game.
December 4, 2023

James Madison, the FCS Team That Spent Like an FBS Team To Become One

The Dukes have been spending like a Sun Belt program for years.
Sponsored

NHL’s Chris Foster on Amplifying Content Distribution With Automation

Learn how the NHL is using WSC Sports to increase fan engagement.
Florida lawmakers already have an appetite to propose state legislation to protest Florida State not making the College Football Playoff.
December 3, 2023

Florida Lawmakers Consider Protesting Florida State CFP Omission

It's unclear what form a bill would take.
December 1, 2023

TV Networks Are Programming College Football’s Future: What’s Next

Conference championship weekends will have a different feel in the future.
A lawsuit against the university of Oregon could dictate the future of Title IX and NIL.
December 1, 2023

New Lawsuit Could Decide Whether NIL Is Subject To Title IX

It's one of the biggest unanswered questions of the NIL era.