CBS Properties to Showcase T-Mobile Invitational

CBS College Sports Network, MaxPreps and CBS Sports teaming to provide cross platform coverage of premier high school basketball tournament.

By Staff Report

Dec 17, 2008, 3:23pm

Staff Report

MaxPreps.com

CBS College Sports Network, MaxPreps and CBS Sports are teaming up to provide comprehensive cross platform coverage of the T-Mobile Invitational high school basketball tournament, a top national event featuring highly ranked high school boys and girls teams. The T-Mobile Invitational will be played December 29-30 at Worthen Arena on the campus of Ball State University.

The T-Mobile Invitational is the only basketball tournament sponsored by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), and the field is composed only of schools from NFHS-member associations. The NFHS' 51 member associations oversee and administer athletic and fine arts activities within those states. Only high schools that are members of those state associations are allowed to compete for their respective state titles.

CBS College Sports Network will broadcast all eight games of the tournament live with play-by-play announcer Jason Knapp teaming with analyst Steve Wolf to call the boys games and analyst Tammy Blackburn to call the girls games. The network is also partnering with Comcast Cable locally in Atlanta, Indianapolis and Seattle to make select tournament games and highlights available to each market via Comcast's Video On Demand platform. Atlanta, Seattle and Indianapolis all have local high school teams participating in the event.

In addition, MaxPreps (www.maxpreps.com), the leading online high school sports network and official online partner of the T-Mobile Invitational, will offer replays of the full broadcast of all tournament games, available on-demand 48 hours after the conclusion of each contest. MaxPreps.com will also provide video features on all of the competing teams, as well as comprehensive highlight packages following each game.

CBS Sports will cap off the tournament by airing a special one-hour "T-Mobile Invitational Showcase" on Jan. 18, 2009 (2 p.m., EST) that will give a behind-the-scenes look at the players, coaches, and fans that make this invitational high school basketball tournament the best in the country. The "T-Mobile Invitational Showcase" will focus on player profiles while highlighting the positive impact high school sports and activities have on students and their communities.

"This event is a great example of how CBS is able to utilize various properties to deliver full value to an advertiser," said Steve Herbst, Executive Vice President and General Manager of CBS College Sports Network. "Together, we are providing T-Mobile with multi-platform, in-depth coverage and a one-stop solution that reaches fans nationally across all outlets, national broadcast, cable and online."

"As a leader in the high school athletics media business, participation in this tournament is a natural fit for MaxPreps," said Andy Beal, President of MaxPreps. "Showcasing a high school tournament on MaxPreps, CBS College Sports Network and CBS Sports provides tremendous visibility for these athletes and their stories."

This year's tournament features the Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas) boys and the Washington (South Bend, Ind.) girls, each among the nation's top ranked teams. Outstanding individuals include Derrick Favors (South Atlanta HS, Atlanta), the nation's top ranked boys prep forward and Skylar Diggins (Washington HS, South Bend, Ind.) the top ranked girls point guard. For more information on the event and for the schedule of games, go to www.t-mobileinvitational.com.