'FarmVille Meets Fantasy Sports:' CBS Takes Fantasy Football to Facebook

CBSSports.com has long had its own fantasy football league, but now the company is expanding its fantasy presence to a new platform: Facebook.

The network is launching “Franchise Football,” a new variation of fantasy football, which will be available exclusively on the social networking site. Calling it “FarmVille meets Fantasy Sports,” the game will have users selecting real players who will play statistically accurate simulated games. Users can earn virtual cash or “reputation points” depending on how their virtual team plays.

“Fantasy sports is really one of the original social networks so it’s a natural for CBSSports.com to extend these games into the world of social media,” said Jason Kint, Senior Vice President and General Manager, CBSSports.com. “Franchise Football will serve as a great extension of our award-winning fantasy football games on CBSSports.com, giving casual players and fanatics alike an avenue to participate in the game on a year round basis.”

Facebook developer Fantasy Moguls developed the game along with CBS Sports.

The game just in time for the start of the NFL season. The move is an interesting experiment for CBS, which typically keeps its fantasy games on its own site, where it can sell its own ad inventory. Still, the network is no stranger to Facebook, with its March Madness bracket challenge an annual; favorite for users of the site.

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