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TopSportsBets.com combines social networking with expert sports picks and sports news

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A new online social network designed for sports fans, TopSportsBets.com, specializes in offering expert sports picks, along with the latest scores, news, game schedules, and betting information. Members have the opportunity to create their own “spot”, with a custom avatar and profile, and network with other sports fans. The site will also be launching a feature that will allow fans the opportunity to join groups that support and discuss their favorite sports teams, player news, and gaming topics.

Topsportsbets.com was founded by a former pro-athlete and a noted digital media entrepreneur who noticed a need for a well organized online community for sports fans. The site offers members free sports picks, along with the opportunity to purchase premium picks based on extensive research and detailed analysis, chosen by Topsportsbets.com’s professional handicappers.

Topsportsbets.com covers a wide range of sports, including NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball, College Football, College Basketball, Mixed Martial Arts and even PGA Tour Golf.

Originally posted on April 27, 2008 @ 6:07 pm

AOL to include ESPN content via syndicated video player

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ESPN and AOL announced that ESPN.com will make its short-form online video content accessible directly through AOL Video, and AOL Sports, marking the first time ESPN has syndicated its video content through an Internet portal. ESPN will offer highlights from games and major sporting events as well as video clips from ESPN original programming via an embedded ESPN video player. The ESPN channel is now available through AOL Video.

Originally posted on April 8, 2008 @ 10:30 am

CBSSports.com to broadcast Final Four live online

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For the first time, CBSSports.com, in partnership with CBS Sports, CBS College Sports Network and the NCAA will provide a live online broadcast of the Final Four and Championship game of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship via their NCAA March Madness on Demand video player. It will be the first time ever that a major U.S. sporting event has been shown live and in its entirety on the Internet.

Traffic figures for NCAA March Madness on Demand for the first eight days (First Round through Elite 8) of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship have shown tremendous growth year-over-year. In total, there have been 4,333,207 total unique visitors to the NCAA March Madness on Demand video player, a 147% increase over 2007 figures. (1,753,192 unique visitors).

A large factor in the year-over-year traffic escalation with NCAA March Madness on Demand is the decision CBSSports.com made to drop registration requirements for the product, giving fans immediate admission to the video player.

Originally posted on April 4, 2008 @ 4:15 pm

USA Today introduces new sports features both in print and online

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USA Today is introducing new sports features in print and online. In the
newspaper, page 3 in the Sports section is now Page 3.0 – your connection to sports coverage online and on television each day. On USAToday.com, a new sports blog is launching. Game On! will be written by two veteran USA Today sports reporters, Reid Cherner and Tom Weir.

Originally posted on March 18, 2008 @ 10:17 pm

FOXSports.com on MSN launches Fantasy Baseball

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With pitchers, catchers and position players all reporting to camp, fantasy fanatics can now enjoy their own rite of spring by signing up for FOX Fantasy Baseball on FOXSports.com on MSN. This year’s FOX Fantasy Baseball game features a revamped express registration system, more statistical analysis and a new Commissioner Bonus Program, which will reward up to 10,000 league commissioners with a free t-shirt and one grand-prize winner with a trip to baseball’s mid-season celebration in New York this July. FOX Fantasy Baseball will also feature live drafts, real-time scoring and in-depth draft materials all free of charge. Fans can sign up for FOX Fantasy Baseball through April 26.

FOX Fantasy Baseball offers both standard public leagues and customizable private leagues that allow users to have complete control over settings, such as scoring, statistics, divisions, trade deadlines, playoff teams and more. Users can also choose between rotisserie, total point and head-to-head formats.

Originally posted on February 28, 2008 @ 4:29 pm