Users now have the ability to add videos and player updates to leagues
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, February 23, 2009 - CBSSports.com has launched its suite of games for the 2009 Fantasy Baseball season. In addition to the award-winning Fantasy Baseball Commissioner and Premium games, CBSSports.com will once again offer Free Fantasy Baseball, allowing fantasy baseball enthusiasts and those playing for the first time to experience the game using a top of the line product at absolutely no cost.
New for 2009,CBSSports.com has given users even more ability to add content to their leagues and the site in general. Each CBSSports.com owner can now embed video within the news stories they post on their league's site. Additionally, CBSSports.com is giving users the ability to add their personal player analysis to the site. Other users can then view and rate the analysis to see if it measures up to the CBSSports.com team of fantasy experts.
Also new in 2009, the CBSSports.com Baseball Commissioner product now offers users the ability to run a live online auction as an alternative way of drafting your league. CBSSports.com has built an auction draft room to handle every type of league, whether you use a salary cap, keepers, or any other auction-style draft option. Click here for more information.
"CBSSports.com continues to lead the Fantasy industry, both from a business and consumer perspective," said Jason Kint, Senior Vice President and General Manager, CBSSports.com. "The upgrades and improvements we are constantly implementing into all our Fantasy products come as a direct result of reaching out to our loyal users and responding to their feedback."
Despite the fact that most providers have switched to a free model, the fantasy sports business at CBSSports.com has experienced accelerating growth over the last three years and thrived with predominantly pay-to-play products. CBSSports.com Fantasy Sports is growing at a double digit percentage rate behind the strength of their award-winning Fantasy Commissioner product.
CBSSports.com is again offering the Fantasy Baseball Downloadable Draft Kit. Fantasy Baseball players can get comprehensive draft content from the veteran team of Fantasy experts at CBSSports.com. No matter what style league you run (Rotisserie/Head-to-Head, Mixed, AL-only or NL-only), the Downloadable Draft Kit is updated daily and has everything you need to get ready for your draft this season- player rankings, cheat sheets and draft day strategies along with exclusive podcasts.
As was the case in 2008, the entire suite of CBSSports.com Fantasy Baseball products will again feature a video player on the league homepage. The video player will showcase exclusive CBSSports.com Fantasy Baseball programming segments, giving players timelier, in-depth news, strategy and advice from the leader in Fantasy Sports. These segments will include MLB game highlight clips with a focus on key fantasy performers. Hosted by Lauren Shehadi and featuring guests such as CBSSports.com Senior Fantasy Writers Eric Mack and Scott White, the Fantasy Baseball video programs will give players all the information they need from draft day to the World Series.
Once again, the flagship product of the Fantasy Baseball offerings at CBSSports.com is Fantasy Baseball Commissioner. The CBSSports.com Fantasy Baseball Commissioner combines a vast array of customization options with an effortless setup process. New and upgraded features for 2009 include increased functionality in the Draft Room, the most comprehensive player pages with expert and user-generated analysis, increased customization with waivers and transactions and as always the fastest LIVE scoring on the Internet - making Fantasy Baseball Commissioner the choice for seasoned, sophisticated fantasy leagues. Fantasy Baseball Commissioner is priced at $179.99 per league, with early bird purchasers saving $20.
At full price, an average league of 10 to 12 players pays about $15 per person, getting everything needed to run a league and manage their teams all season long. Additionally, each league's history, including a complete league record book, is recorded for future reference.
For the 2009 Fantasy Baseball season, CBSSports.com is hosting "The Ultimate Fantasy Baseball Draft Party" contest. Now through the end of April, CBSSports.com registered users can submit their favorite Fantasy Baseball game experience with a chance to win the Grand Prize, a trip to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 2010 with up to 11 friends to host a Fantasy Baseball draft party at a selected hotel venue. Additional prizes include Free Fantasy Baseball Commissioner for life. For more information, please visit: http://cbssports.com/win.
CBS Sports Mobile offers three products for the Fantasy Baseball player this season, allowing users full control of their fantasy team, anytime, anywhere. Available across all major carriers, the Fantasy Baseball Companion is available for FREE by going to CBSSports.com on any mobile device, and allows players to set lineups, track fantasy scores, get up to the minute player news, and even make trades.
iPhone users can also control their fantasy teams by downloading the CBS Sports Mobile application FREE from the iTunes app store, which allows users complete access to their CBSSports.com Fantasy Baseball leagues and the ability to fully manage their teams on the go.
The third product allows Fantasy baseball players to receive personalized fantasy alerts for FREE direct to their mobile device, with "my player" news, trade notifications, and more. Users can sign up directly from their CBSSports.com fantasy baseball league.
The complete lineup of 2009 Fantasy Baseball products from CBSSports.comLeague Management
CBSSports.com Fantasy Baseball Commissioner - Manage leagues with up to 30 teams! Priced at $179.99 with a $20 discount for early bird sign ups.
Premium and Free Leagues - CBSSports.com acts as commissioner leaving users to only worry about fielding a winning team! Leagues always have 10 teams and participants can create a new league or join an existing league to compete against other users.
Free Fantasy Baseball - FREE of charge, includes all premium game options such as live-scoring. One Grand Prize Winner will receive Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00 US Dollars). (chosen at random from pool of all Free Fantasy Baseball league champions)
Fantasy Baseball Gold - $29.95 per team, $150 league prize. **
Fantasy Baseball Platinum - $99.95 per team, $600 league prize. **
Fantasy Baseball Diamond - $249.95 per team, $1,600 league prize. **
Fantasy Baseball Double Diamond - $499.95 per team, $3,500 league prize. **
About CBSSports.comCBSSports.com is a unit of CBS Interactive, the best online content network for information and entertainment. A division of CBS Corporation, CBS Interactive has more than 170 million people visiting its properties each month, making it a top 10 web property globally. Its portfolio of leading brands, which include CNET, CBS.com, CBSSports.com, GameSpot, TV.com, BNET and Last.fm, span popular categories like technology, entertainment, sports, news and business.
More information about CBS and its businesses is available at www.cbscorporation.com.
CBSSports.com Baseball Commissioner is open to (a) Registered Users; (b) thirteen (13) years of age or older at the time of registration. CBSSports.com Baseball Commissioner is subject to the complete applicable Terms of Use. Void where prohibited by law. Certain restrictions apply. Offer valid while supplies last. Limited time offer expires March 12, 11:59pm ET 2009. CBSSports.com Free Fantasy Baseball is open to persons who are: (a) Registered Users; (b) legal residents of one (1) of the fifty (50) United States, Washington DC, and Canada (excluding Quebec) (for purposes of clarity, Puerto Rico is expressly excluded); and (c) at least eighteen (18) years of age or the age of majority in their state of residence at the date of registration in the Sweepstakes. *NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. CBSSports.com Free Fantasy Baseball is subject to the complete applicable Official Rules. Void where prohibited by law. *Fantasy Baseball Gold is open to: (a) Registered Users; (b) legal residents of one (1) of the fifty (50) United States, Washington DC and Canada (excluding Quebec) (for purposes of clarity, Puerto Rico is expressly excluded); and (c) at least eighteen (18) years of age or age of majority at the date of registration in the Contest. PLEASE NOTE: Notwithstanding the foregoing: (i) eligible legal residents of Canada (excluding Quebec), Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana, and Vermont may play Fantasy Baseball Gold, but are not eligible to win any prizes. **Fantasy Baseball Platinum, Diamond and Double Diamond are open to: (a) Registered Users; (b) legal residents of one of the fifty (50) United States (excluding residents of Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana, and Vermont) (for purposes of clarity, Puerto Rico is expressly excluded), and Washington D.C.; and (c) at least eighteen (18) years of age or age of majority at the date of registration in the Contest.
All CBSSports.com Fantasy Baseball games are subject to the complete applicable Official Rules. Void where prohibited by law.
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For further information, contact:
CBSSports.com — Corporate Communications — (954) 489-4235