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In its quest to maximize the marketing madness around this year’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament, CBS Sports naturally is turning to digital media. Basketball fanatics and bracket newbies alike can stream game clips directly to their cell phones, watch free webcasts of all games, and even fill out the official tournament bracket on Facebook.
It sounded like the perfect new media mix, that is, until the FBI got involved.
See, much like an office pool, Internet gambling is illegal. And, while not all of the 20,000 Facebook groups who downloaded CBS’s bracket application involve cash betting, I think it’s safe to assume that many of them do.
I also think it’s safe to assume that no one will be arrested and no bracket champ will lose out on his or her winnings.
But it does reinforce the fact that digital media is changing the rules of the game. And while many issues like this can’t be predicted, perhaps a “what could go wrong” brainstorming session would be helpful before beginning a digital or social media campaign. A crisis plan, of sorts, for any new online endeavor.
Illegal activity aside, how will you participate in March Madness? Either way, good luck to everyone who filled out a bracket, online or off. And, seeing as my school didn’t even make the NIT, I will pass on the obligatory, closing “Go Team!” line.
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