Digital communications company Interactive Communication Group (ICG) has become the inaugural Desk-top Applications Sponsor of Sport and Technology. The company has developed i-comm, a patented online communication platform delivering permission-based, targeted rich media messages. i-comm can deliver high quality interactive messages such as full-screen video, music, newspapers, games, customer surveys and high quality images to the targeted consumer's computer desk-top and beyond. It incorporates the best aspects of the traditional marketing mix, providing the rich and dynamic impact of advertising, the targeting capabilities of direct mail and the measurability, interaction and timeliness of the internet. ICG co-founder and co-CEO Marc Hempel said: “Our i-comm product is aimed at strengthening relationships between brands and their customers through a permission based environment - values that are shared by Sport and Technology.” Visit http://icomm.icginternational.com/icomm/generic/ for a free demo of i-comm.
Infostrada Sports in agency take over
Sport and Technology sponsor Infostrada Sports has taken a majority shareholding in Hayters Teamwork, an independent sportswriting agency based in the UK. More than 100 leading sportswriters and many top broadcasters started their careers at Hayters, which has been supplying UK and international newspapers, magazines and publishers with sports news, features and statistics since 1955. In recent years, Hayters has expanded into websites and mobile platforms, as official content provider for TheFA.com, UEFA.com and Joe Cole.com. Hayters Broadcasting also supplies material for Sky Sports News, BBC, ITN, CNN and many other TV outlets around the world. Hayters will add to Infostrada's services a daily sports news feed, covering soccer, rugby, cricket, athletics and all major sports, in all forms of media - written, audio and visual.
BT Vision launched
BT has announced the UK commercial launch of BT Vision, its new television and entertainment service. BT Vision uses the Microsoft TV Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Edition software platform and an advanced Philips set-top box to deliver a next-generation digital television service to BT Total Broadband customers across the UK. The announcement is the latest in a wave of European IPTV deployments based on the Microsoft TV software platform and claims to herald a new era of “compelling personal and connected TV experiences available to consumers”. BT Vision combines more than 40 DTT (digital terrestrial television)-based Freeview channels, digital recording capability and an extensive library of video-on-demand content delivered over broadband. This gives viewers greater choice without the need to commit to a compulsory monthly TV subscription.
Team of the Year up for grabs
Voting is now underway for the Uefa.com users’ ‘Team of the Year 2006’. The poll, now in its sixth year, gives the users of European soccer website Uefa.com, the chance to select a team of players who have made their mark in European soccer over the last 12 months. Sixty players and managers have been nominated for 12 positions, including coach, and the final team will be announced on 19 January 2007 on Uefa.com and in the January issue of Champions magazine.
Sport goes satellite
SIRIUS Satellite Radio is to present unprecedented live radio coverage of NASCAR races starting in 2007. SIRIUS will also take fans into the cars and pits by devoting up to 10 additional ‘Team Talk’ channels that will carry the driver-to-crew communications of up to 10 different race teams during the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races. SIRIUS will combine the race broadcast with the driver-to-crew chatter on these channels, allowing fans to follow the overall race call and the in-car audio of a driver on a single channel throughout the race. The channels will feature top drivers based on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series standings. Meanwhile, XM Satellite Radio will be the exclusive satellite radio home of the 2007 Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game, offering college football fans complete play-by- play coverage on XM Sports Nation (XM Channel 144) as top-ranked Ohio State takes on number-two Florida on 8 January 2007. Under an agreement with FOX Sports, XM will be the sole satellite radio network for the BCS National Championship, Allstate Sugar Bowl, FedEx Orange Bowl, and Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
Real Madrid TV kicks off in the UK
Spanish soccer station Real Madrid TV has struck a deal with content management and delivery company GlobeCast to deliver the soccer club’s English language infotainment channel to Sky’s digital platform using GlobeCast’s capacity on the Eurobird satellite. Real Madrid TV is the official television channel of Real Madrid and the English language version of the channel aims to be an information and entertainment portal for Real Madrid fans throughout the UK and Ireland. It will feature Real Madrid soccer matches, club news, player and coach interviews, as well as news and interviews from the club’s successful basketball team.
BBC show seeks sports technology inventions
Dragons' Den is the hugely successful BBC Two business entertainment show in the UK that gives entrepreneurs the chance to pitch for real cash investment from five big-business millionaires. The series is now in production for the fourth series and the BBC is searching for business ideas, inventions or products with serious business potential that are investment ready and looking for funding in the UK. Dragons' Den is a challenging place to pitch but it's also a genuine business opportunity to secure investment. The BBC want to hear from S&T readers if you think you've got what it takes to enter the Dragons' Den. Entrepreneurs wanting to apply should do so ASAP as filming takes place early in 2007. You can apply via email to dragonsden@bbc.co.uk or by visiting the website: www.bbc.co.uk/dragonsden Alternatively call Lyndon Saunders on +44 (0) 161 244 3633.
Mobile gets sticky
According to new research from handset manufacturer Nokia, mobile phone gamers are looking to the next generation of mobile gaming to meet their needs to easily discover, share and play fun and high quality mobile games. The results found mobile phone gamers frequently play mobile games for an average of 28 minutes per session, value improved game graphics, prefer to trial games before buying, and find communities increasingly integral to their overall mobile gaming experience.
NHL hits YouTube
Highlights from NHL games are to be made available on video sharing website YouTube. The NHL is the first professional sports league to enter a contract for content and advertising with the site. The agreement was announced a day after Google completed its $1.65bn purchase of YouTube, where more than 100m video clips are viewed every day. Under the deal, YouTube will identify and remove illegally posted NHL clips and share revenue from advertising. The NHL will also have its own dedicated web channel on the site.
Bogdog.com pulls US ads
Online betting and gaming company Bodog.com Entertainment has pulled all its US-facing gaming-related advertising, mostly for its free-play and educational site, Bodog.net. The advertising pullback includes television, radio, magazine and newspapers in the US market as the company has chosen instead to focus its gaming and educational site advertising efforts on European and Asian markets in a strategic decision based on the entertainment company's long-term business objectives. The company will continue to advertise its other digital entertainment products, including television, music and publishing, in North America and markets around the world. Bodog.com Founder Calvin Ayre, citing current uncertainties in the US market, said the recent legislation passed by Congress was a reason behind the decision. "Though the online gaming environment in the US seems to be headed down a path toward eventual regulation, the current climate calls for even more focus of our gaming-related advertising dollars into markets that face Europe and Asia," says the billionaire founder of Bodog.com Entertainment. "We couldn't be better positioned to build upon our current success and growth and to continue our aggressive push toward international expansion into markets such as Europe and Asia."
Page from ArkSports' Sport and Technology (www.sportandtechnology.com) on 2008-11-21 : News - December 2006 : http://www.sportandtechnology.com/news/0446.html
BT has announced the UK commercial launch of BT Vision, its new television and entertainment service. BT Vision uses the Microsoft TV Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Edition software platform and an advanced Philips set-top box to deliver a next-generation digital television service to BT Total Broadband customers across the UK. The announcement is the latest in a wave of European IPTV deployments based on the Microsoft TV software platform and claims to herald a new era of “compelling personal and connected TV experiences available to consumers”. BT Vision combines more than 40 DTT (digital terrestrial television)-based Freeview channels, digital recording capability and an extensive library of video-on-demand content delivered over broadband. This gives viewers greater choice without the need to commit to a compulsory monthly TV subscription.
SIRIUS Satellite Radio is to present unprecedented live radio coverage of NASCAR races starting in 2007. SIRIUS will also take fans into the cars and pits by devoting up to 10 additional ‘Team Talk’ channels that will carry the driver-to-crew communications of up to 10 different race teams during the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series races. SIRIUS will combine the race broadcast with the driver-to-crew chatter on these channels, allowing fans to follow the overall race call and the in-car audio of a driver on a single channel throughout the race. The channels will feature top drivers based on the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series standings. Meanwhile, XM Satellite Radio will be the exclusive satellite radio home of the 2007 Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game, offering college football fans complete play-by- play coverage on XM Sports Nation (XM Channel 144) as top-ranked Ohio State takes on number-two Florida on 8 January 2007. Under an agreement with FOX Sports, XM will be the sole satellite radio network for the BCS National Championship, Allstate Sugar Bowl, FedEx Orange Bowl, and Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
Dragons' Den is the hugely successful BBC Two business entertainment show in the UK that gives entrepreneurs the chance to pitch for real cash investment from five big-business millionaires. The series is now in production for the fourth series and the BBC is searching for business ideas, inventions or products with serious business potential that are investment ready and looking for funding in the UK. Dragons' Den is a challenging place to pitch but it's also a genuine business opportunity to secure investment. The BBC want to hear from S&T readers if you think you've got what it takes to enter the Dragons' Den.
Online betting and gaming company Bodog.com Entertainment has pulled all its US-facing gaming-related advertising, mostly for its free-play and educational site, Bodog.net. The advertising pullback includes television, radio, magazine and newspapers in the US market as the company has chosen instead to focus its gaming and educational site advertising efforts on European and Asian markets in a strategic decision based on the entertainment company's long-term business objectives. The company will continue to advertise its other digital entertainment products, including television, music and publishing, in North America and markets around the world. Bodog.com Founder Calvin Ayre, citing current uncertainties in the US market, said the recent legislation passed by Congress was a reason behind the decision. "Though the online gaming environment in the US seems to be headed down a path toward eventual regulation, the current climate calls for even more focus of our gaming-related advertising dollars into markets that face Europe and Asia," says the billionaire founder of Bodog.com Entertainment. "We couldn't be better positioned to build upon our current success and growth and to continue our aggressive push toward international expansion into markets such as Europe and Asia."
