SAN JOSE, Calif. – If you can't get enough of March Madness on television, Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL) will offer college basketball fans a chance to download the games or game highlights through its online iTunes Music Store.
Apple said Tuesday it will offer condensed versions of the 63 Division I men's NCAA basketball games a day after they air on CBS (CBS-A). Full-length versions of this year's semifinal and championship games also will be available for download.
The games will cost $1.99 each, or $19.99 for a "season pass" to all the games.
The distribution deal with the sports unit of CBS — which also is putting some of its prime time shows for sale on Google Inc.'s (GOOG) rival online video store — is part of Apple's continued expansion into video.
The Cupertino-based company debuted TV shows and music videos on its iTunes store last October and since has sold more than 15 million videos.
Its catalog now includes programming from ABC, NBC, MTV, Showtime Networks Inc., NASCAR and Comedy Central. MTV and Comedy Central are units of Viacom Inc. (VIA-B), while Showtime is part of CBS.
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