IN THE NEWS: A SUPER CRACKDOWN
NEW YORK (AP) -- If your Super Bowl-watching plans included checking out the big game on one of those "don't tell anybody about this" web sites that feature streams of live sporting events -- better make other plans. The Feds have shut down more than a dozen of those sites. Federal investigators have seized 16 sites in all -- and brought criminal charges against a Michigan man who controlled nine of those sites. The moves were announced just hours after New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady told reporters covering the Super Bowl he watched last year's game on an illegal site. New York Giants fans, don't get excited -- Brady won't be locked up for Sunday's game. Feds have also announced they are cracking down on overseas-based web sites that offer cut-rate jerseys and gear for NFL teams, as well as stuff for other major sports. Wondering why the federal government is involved in this? Authorities say piracy costs the sports leagues money -- which ends up being passed along to consumers through higher ticket prices and increased fees for subscriptions to sports packages on cable and satellite carriers.
IN THE NEWS: ABOUT FACE(BOOK) !!!
NEW YORK (AP) -- You know how it goes at one of those all-you-can eat buffets? Most people take normal, human-sized plates. Then there are those who pile on the grub like it's the last meal they'll ever eat. Looks like it's the same deal with Facebook. A new study indicates the average user ends up getting more messages, "likes" and "pokes" than they send out. Then, there is the group of Facebook "power users" who do more than their share of, well "sharing." The report is from the Pew Research Center -- and comes two days after Facebook filed for a $5 billion initial public offering of stock, which could make the company's value close to $100 billion dollars.
ON THE WEB: SUPER, JUST SUPER
CYBERSPACE (AP) -- The Super Bowl is just two days away. And if you aren't following the game on a big screen, that won't mean you're out of options -- even if you can't access those illegal web sites the Feds have just cracked down on. For a handy -- and totally legal -- online experience, you can go to the NBC Sports site, which will stream the big game live. Just don't be a sucker for any bets being offered by people who are watching on TV -- in case you didn't know already, the streams lag behind the live game action.
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Online:
NFL site: http://www.nfl.com/superbowl
NFL Mobile site: http://sponsorship.verizonwireless.com/nfl/nfl-mobile
NBC Sports site: http://nbcsports.com
IN STORES: HUFFINGTON POST LAUNCHING LIVE VIDEO NETWORK
NEW YORK (AP) -- It's being trumpeted as a marriage of broadcast news and social media. And you're invited to attend. The "wedding" is between AOL and the Huffington Post. The two companies are launching a live video network. It's called the Huffington Post Streaming Network -- and will be online this summer. The site will stream news video live 12 hours a day during the week. By next year, it's expected to expand to 16 hours a day next year. The site will rely on viewer interaction. Reports and interviews will be blended with news read off of social media. And those commenting on the news will be invited to be guests through Skype.
Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.
