• by Gavin O'Malley  @mp_gavin, May 31, 2011

Every March, the NCAA men's basketball championship leaves CBS Interactive swimming in video views. And while no other event can yet compete, the network is busy developing franchises with big video potential. Next week, during the E3 gaming conference, GameSpot plans to stream over 80 hours of video coverage.

CBS Interactive's gaming news and information site is also promising more interactivity, with the addition of a roaming user-directed live cameraman.

"Year after year, our video views for E3 continue to grow, so we're excited about its future," said Sarah Cain, vice president of communications for CBS Interactive. "Not every event can be [March Madness On Demand], but gaming holds a lot of potential."

Cain said she wasn't able to disclose specific traffic numbers for GameSpot's previous E3 coverage.

For this year's event, Best Buy has signed on as the show's title sponsor, joined by Klondike, Sony, Bethesda, Warner Bros and THQ. As the show's title sponsor, Best Buy will be featured on the live stage show each day of E3.

Other video offerings will include live video of the Microsoft, EA, Ubisoft, Sony and Nintendo press conferences, as well as continuous coverage of game announcements, news and interviews live from the GameSpot stage.

To ensure accessible show coverage, video will be streamed across the GameSpot Video Network, which includes YouTube and Ustream. Consumers will also be encouraged to embed live streaming footage directly onto Facebook, Twitter and personal blogs.

In addition to GameSpot, CBS Interactive properties include CNET.com, CBS.com, CBSSports.com, CBSNews.com and TV.com. Earlier this year, the division also agreed to acquire Clicker Media, which owns clicker.com, a digital guide for video entertainment.

In turn, CBS named Jim Lanzone, co-founder and chief executive officer of Clicker Media, as the new president of CBS Interactive -- replacing outgoing chief Neil Ashe.