The answer is yes.  The question is how?  Thankfully, all consumers do not have the burden of finding the answer to this question.  As new technologies continue to emerge and existing ones continue to improve, the options for access to great content for all fans grows exponentially.  Additionally, the opportunities for content providers are continually expanding as a result of emerging technologies. 

No longer do fans have to wait several months following an important win to see full game content. These days, full game content is readily available on numerous platforms. This is the case with MOD and Hewlett-Packard, who are producing a series of college football games on DVD that hit the streets typically less than 36 hours from the original network broadcast.  Although the distribution model is non-traditional, retailers are gradually becoming accustomed to the quick turnaround, particularly in the midsize retail market and local fan shops.

Even with the ongoing improvement of downloads and digital distribution methods, traditional DVD production and regional distribution continues to be the most successful plan for content providers, despite the fact that the internet will be the fastest growing segment of media in the next five years.  Part of this phenomenon in the sports category is based on the fact that most sports featured in DVDs, and college sports in particular, become a collectible product.  While television programs, including sports related content, still account for 25% of overall DVD sales, consumers still spend most of their money (35%) on DVD’s as compared to music, video games, and the box office.  DVD and home video remains the most cost effective and user-friendly format (packaged media vs. downloads) and will keep business strong for the next 3-5 years.

Still, there is one major technological advance that will make the opportunities greater…High Definition!  As more broadcasters and consumers adopt this format the opportunities in this category will increase as well.  By 2009, over half of all US households will receive HD programming in their homes, including 30 million HD screens in homes by 2008.  While studio motion pictures will help drive this category, sports have an opportunity to be a major player.  Studies have shown that the single most driving force behind a customer's’ decision to purchase a HD screen and/or programming, is sports broadcasts.  Consequently, HD consumer media products will be the new frontier for college sports content.  As networks step up their efforts to broadcast content in HD (65% increase from 2006), content providers will have the best quality content to sell and consumers will have the best quality content to purchase. 

Certainly the media advances and changes are creating better opportunities for both providers and consumers.  It is an exciting time and new developments will continue to improve the overall marketplace for everyone!

"Dennis Miller, one of the great comic minds of our generation, will unleash his unmatched wit on the world of sports in his new weekly series for VERSUS. Dennis has been offering his sardonic slant on current events and pop culture since he first took over the Weekend Update desk on Saturday Night Live.  Having wowed audiences and critics on his hit HBO show, nabbing multiple Emmy Awards, Dennis now pairs his comedic prowess with his passion for sports.  Incorporating interview segments with satirical spoofs and rants, all of the signature Miller elements will be present to provide a unique and unparalleled sports program."

CI licensed video clips on behalf of The University of Tennessee, University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University and The Ohio State University.

TM:  The University of Tennessee, University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University and The Ohio State University

Feature Film

©  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc.

Lions for Lambs

"Lions for Lambs begins after two determined students at a West Coast University, Arian (Derek Luke) and Ernest (Michael Pena), follow the inspiration of their idealistic professor, Dr. Malley (Robert Redford), and attempt to do something important with their lives. But when the two make the bold decision to join the battle in Afghanistan, Malley is both moved and distraught. Now, as Arian and Ernest fight for survival in the field, they become the string that binds together two disparate stories on opposite sides of America. In California, an anguished Dr. Malley attempts to reach a privileged, but disaffected student (Andrew Garfield), who is the very opposite of Arian and Ernest. Meanwhile, in Washington D.C. the charismatic Presidential hopeful, Senator Jasper Irving (Tom Cruise), is about to give a bombshell story to a probing TV journalist (Meryl Streep) that may affect Arian and Ernest's fates."

Collegiate Images provided clip licensing from each game of the following games for this feature film:

Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh - 2/5/1994

Purdue vs. Wisconsin - 2/13/1997

Alabama vs. Kentucky - 1/21/1998

©:  Big East Conference, University of Wisconsin and University of Kentucky
TM:  Syracuse University, University of Pittsburgh, Purdue University, University of Wisconsin, The University of Alabama and University of Kentucky

Trademark Clearance in a TV Show

© NBC Universal, Inc.

Friday Night Lights

Friday Nights Lights, an expansion of the hit feature film and best selling book "Friday Night Lights."  It’s a touching series which centers on the small rural town of Dillon, Texas, where the coveted state football championship rings are held in the highest regard. The Dillon Panther's faced many challenges their first season with Coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler, "King Kong") at the helm, but after much hard work, determination and a victory at the State Championship Game, the team's fate at the start of yet another new season and the Taylor family's future with them, continues to remain uncertain.

Collegiate Images cleared trademarks within the episode "Jumping the Gun," for The University of Alabama and The University of Michigan.  Due to the holiday scheduling, the tentative air date for this episode is Friday, December 14, 2007 9:00pm (EST) on NBC.

TM:  The University of Alabama and The University of Michigan

By Eric Fisher, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

The MLBPA, handed a second legal defeat earlier this month in the ongoing CDM Fantasy Sports lawsuit, have requested a rehearing before the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.  In papers filed late yesterday, the union argues the appeals court placed too much value on First Amendment rights and too little on state-law commercial interests.

"The panel decision, which held that Missouri law barring such [commercial] use of [player identities] cannot be enforced because it infringes [CDM's] right to engage in expressive speech, conflicts with the decisions of numerous other courts addressing the relationship between state-law rights of publicity and the First Amendment," the filing reads. "By allowing commercial entities on the Internet to exploit athlete and celebrity publicity rights for increased profits without consent and payment, the panel disrupted extant business and reliance interests in the billions of dollars."

The MLBPA and co-appellant MLBAM had until today to request the rehearing before the appeals court, which affirmed a prior district court summary judgment granting First Amendment protections and unlicensed use of player names and statistics in commercial fantasy games. There is no timetable for when the court will render a decision on the request, though it is likely it will seek a written response from CDM first. MLBAM's filing for rehearing, as well as an amicus brief from a collection of sports properties including the NFL, NBA, and NASCAR, is expected by the close of business today.