Gift Idea: Premium Website Membership

There are plenty of websites about USC, but four lead the way with fans who can never get enough content.

In the past year, a lot changed in Troy's digital landscape. A trio of sites emerged that take a close look into Heritage Hall, plus one that originates from within. All of them offer basic information to the public, but you'll have to subscribe to access premium content like videos, practice reports, and members-only message boards.

All four are also helping realize the full potential of online journalism. If you visit games, practices at Howard Jones Field, or any number of other USC events, you'll see dedicated reporters and photographers from each site covering up-to-the-minute news and developing features. I asked the publishers which aspect of their site they were most proud of; all referenced their hard-working staff.

The similarities continue. Each is affiliated with a national sports news network. Except for the USC-run site, all build communities through their message boards and cover high school recruiting. All of them are also big supporters of Ricky Rosas, and the three independent sites teamed up for a successful family holiday drive this past weekend.

A subscription to any of these could make a die-hard Trojan very happy. The pricing is similar, but each has differences in their core packages and add-ons (such as magazines and premium access to affiliate sites).

In picking a site, don't just go by these bullet points. The first three all have a different editorial feel. Despite some membership cross-over, there is also a difference in their message board communities. To learn more about it, check out the free content and consider the 7-day trials that each offers.

In no particular order ...

"USCFootball.com's War Rooms provide the die-hard USC fan with exclusive, insider information on the university and its recruits, filtered through our professional journalists to the site's subscribers." -- Ryan Abraham, USCFootball.com

• Network: Rivals (also affiliated with Yahoo! Sports)
• Packages: $99.95/year or $9.95/month.
• Perks: $20 gift shop credit, text message alerts.
• Click here for full subscription info.

"I'm most proud of our staff.  We've got a bunch of people who really care about USC and I think the readers on our site understand that and appreciate it." -- Garry Paskwietz, WeAreSC.com

• Network: ESPN
• Packages: $99/year (+2 months if ordering as a gift) or $9.95/1 month.
• Perks: ESPN.com Insider, ESPN The Magazine subscription.
• Click here for full subscription info.

"Clay deLeon and Kevin Carden provide daily in-depth analysis of all the major USC sports combined with recruiting news and updates from SCOUT.com's comprehensive national network of recruiting experts." -- Clay deLeon, SCPlaybook.com

• Network: Scout
• Packages: $99.95/year, $29.95/3 months, or $9.95/1 month.
• Perks: Monthly magazine, 2008 Rose Bowl DVD, Sports Illustrated subscription.
• Click here for full subscription info.

"One of the most exciting features on the website are all of the “Behind the Scenes” features that you get access to on all of our teams.  From Women’s Soccer and Volleyball, to Football and Basketball you get great pieces both filmed by our student Athletes and produced by our in-house video staff." -- Jose Eskenazi, USC Athletic Department

• Network: CSTV
• Packages: $99.95/year or $9.95/month.
  
• Perks: No physical perks, but this site offers unique access because it's run by the school.
• Click here for full subscription info.