Business of Sports Network Portal
The Business of Sports Network is a series of resources that looks at sports from outside the lines. Our portal is online providing links to content on our baseball, basketball, hockey, and football sites. For content involving motorsports, soccer, golf, and other sports, look for information here. Turner Sports, PGA Partner for 3D Coverage of 92nd PGA Championship
The 3D production will utilize eight cameras produced specifically for 3D that will provide a unique look at course action and give fans a one-of-a-kind visual experience to watch the world’s best golfers play the course’s challenging par-3s. In order to experience the event in 3D, viewers will need a 3D TV or PC display with matching 3D glasses. Fans can visit http://www.pga.com/pgachampionship/2010/3d to get more information about the hardware and software used to view the 3D production online. In addition to 3D coverage, Turner Sports will also offer 20 hours of television coverage on TNT, live 2D coverage on PGA.com and on mobile devices, with additional details to be announced at a later date. “At Turner Sports we continually look to provide the fan with an innovative viewing experience through our ability to test and explore new opportunities,” said Lenny Daniels, Turner Sports EVP and COO. “The PGA Championship has always been a platform for forward thinking and interactive technology. During previous PGA Championship coverage on TNT and PGA.com, we have introduced our marquee follow coverage, live streaming action through mobile apps and included social networking within our linear broadcast. Introducing 3D coverage to this crown jewel event allows us another opportunity to better serve our audience and add to our multitude of platforms.” “The PGA Championship has perennially been the source of many of the game's most special moments,” said PGA of America Director of Broadcast & New Media Casey Morton. “The addition of 3D television and online technology unfolding at Whistling Straits, a spectacular venue for viewers, is yet another new level of excitement for fans to follow the world's premier players. We anticipate that the addition of this bonus for viewers opens another chapter in PGA Championship tradition.” Source: Turner Sports MORE NEWS FROM THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK (THE BIZ OF BASEBALL)
Turner Sports to Enter 3D Programming with NASCAR's Coke Zero 400
NASCAR Media Group, a media, marketing and entertainment company, and Turner Sports, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., announced today that NASCAR’s first foray into 3D programming will take place on July 3, 2010 with a special presentation of the Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola (TNT, 7:30 p.m. ET). The 3D production, NASCAR’s first ever, will be made available through TNT RaceBuddy on NASCAR.COM (NASCAR.COM/RaceBuddy3D) as well as through DIRECTV, and will complement a special television presentation on TNT, highlighted by the network’s groundbreaking signature Wide Open format. NASCAR.COM will feature 3D feeds for the Daytona race in addition to the mosaic of HD-quality complementary unique camera angles available on TNT RaceBuddy on NASCAR.COM (NASCAR.COM/RaceBuddy) throughout the six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races televised on TNT. Turner, which manages NASCAR.COM, will also make the Sprint Cup Series race from Daytona International Speedway available in 3D through DIRECTV. In order to experience the event in 3D, viewers will need a 3D TV or PC display with matching 3D glasses. Fans can go to www.nascar.com/racebuddy3D to get more information about the hardware and software used to view the 3D production online. “One of our goals here at NASCAR is to continuously explore ways to improve the viewing experience for our fans,” said Jay Abraham, chief operating officer of NASCAR Media Group. “Offering the Coke Zero 400 in 3D on NASCAR.COM and select television distributors is a great example of that consistent exploration. Our fans have been asking us about 3D for several months so we’re excited to deliver that to them for the first time ever in what will likely change how NASCAR is consumed moving forward.” The 3D production on NASCAR.COM and DIRECTV will feature two custom racing feeds produced specifically for 3D. The first will provide a unique look at the racing action from strategically placed cameras around the track designed to maximize the effect of 3D. The second stream will bring the mayhem of pit row into the third dimension creating a one-of-a-kind visual experience. “At Turner Sports we pride ourselves on innovation through testing, learning and exploring new products and technologies that can better serve our audiences on a multitude of platforms,” said Lenny Daniels, Turner Sports EVP and COO. “We see this as an opportunity to showcase our marquee primetime race in Daytona through our signature Wide Open format on TNT, as well as to learn more about 3D through this unique presentation online at NASCAR.COM and through DIRECTV.” TNT’s televised coverage of the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona on July 3 begins at 6:30 p.m. ET with Countdown to Green, and continues with live race coverage in its groundbreaking signature Wide Open format beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. This format is a television presentation in which the network provides continuous race coverage free of national commercial breaks and features more unobstructed race action than that of a standard telecast by using a letterbox widescreen format. Along with title sponsor Coke Zero, featured sponsors-to-date are Burger King, Coors Light, Dimension Films’ Piranha 3D, Goodyear, Sprint, Subway and Toyota. NASCAR Media Group is the exclusive rights holder of NASCAR event footage, race data and content and its credits include Dale and The Ride of Their Lives, NASCAR-themed movies for Viacom distributed on TV and via DVD. Source: Turner Sports
OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK: (THE BIZ OF BASEBALL)
Upper Deck Releases 2010 MLS Card Sets
The Upper Deck Company, the industry leader in sports trading cards, has just released its exclusive 2010 Upper Deck Soccer set featuring the greatest players in Major League Soccer (MLS). The set is especially timely as the 2010 FIFA World Cup is set to begin in less than a month in South Africa and many of the players competing in the World Cup are included in the collection. What’s more, the set includes special subset and insert cards spotlighting many of the top women’s professional players in the world including superstars like Heather Mitts, Hope Solo and Amy Rodriguez. “This is truly a collectible set of soccer cards,” said Jason Masherah, Upper Deck’s director of Sports Brands. “Not only does this year’s effort include many of the top names in Major League Soccer, but it pinpoints specific players from around the globe who will be representing their respective countries in next month’s FIFA World Cup competition. The fact that we’ve included some of the best women’s professional soccer players in the world is just icing on the cake. The 200-card base set includes 175 standard cards, along with two subsets: “Super Draft Rookies” (15 cards) and “WPS All-Stars” (10 cards). All 16 of the MLS teams are included in the set with eight to 12 top-notch players per squad represented. In this year’s FIFA World Cup, the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team will field their best 11 men ever led by its fearless captain, Landon Donovan who doubles as a member of MLS’s Los Angeles Galaxy. By the same token, David Beckham, by far the most popular of international players to test his talents on U.S. soil as a member of the Galaxy, would normally be helping England battle in next month’s FIFA World Cup if not for an Achilles injury he suffered earlier this year. The set’s sought-after lineup of insert cards leaves few stones unturned as autographs and game-used memorabilia cards abound. The “MLS Marks” and “WPS Marks” autograph cards will excite any pack collector as names like Donovan, Eddie Lewis and Donovan Ricketts from the Galaxy, Arturo Alvarez and Robbie Findley from the San Jose Earthquakes, and Steve Zakuani, Fredy Montero and Nate Jaqua from the Seattle Sounders top the list. Signed cards from the top ladies in the game can be found coming from Mitts (Philadelphia Independence) and Solo (St. Luis Athletica), along with Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom) and Karina LeBlanc (L.A. Sol). The set’s strong selection of game-used jersey inserts includes “MLS Teammates Dual Materials” cards (numbered to 65) including outstanding combos like Beckham/Donovan, Brian McBride/Wilman Conde (Chicago Fire) and Jimmy Conrad/Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards). Even rarer “Dual” and “Triple Materials” cards, numbered to 50 and 35, respectively, are also sprinkled into the product so be on the lookout for these choice chase cards. The “WPS National Pride Triple Materials” card (numbered to 50) showing Mitts, Solo and Rodriguez will no doubt be on every collector’s want list. The product, which includes 12 cards per pack and 20 packs per box, is currently on store shelves. Source: Upper Deck
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UFC Fights Available on Roku, Starting with Rampage Vs. Evans
For the first time ever, just as UFC light heavyweight rivals Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans enter the Octagon and touch gloves, Roku users all over the country will be able to see what happens next and who emerges the winner of this ultimate grudge-match live on TV via their Roku streaming video player. The world’s largest live Pay-Per-View event content provider, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and Roku, Inc. today announced a multi-year deal to feature all major UFC events on Roku, starting with UFC 114: Rampage vs. Evans taking place Saturday, May 29 live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena. “We are always looking at the latest technology and the newest ways to bring the UFC experience to our fans,” said Dana White, UFC President. “Roku is another way for fans to get more UFC and watch all of the UFC events live and in HD, starting with UFC 114 on Saturday, May 29th.”
“The Roku player is capable of delivering amazing live events, in HD, on the TV. We are excited to be UFC’s lead partner in bringing the total UFC experience – from live events and classic fights to insider previews, countdowns, and training coverage – to fans everywhere, whenever they want it,” said Anthony Wood, founder and CEO of Roku, Inc. “The new UFC channel joins a growing list of major streaming content services for the TV that started first on Roku, including Netflix, MLB.TV, and Amazon Video On Demand – further strengthening our position as the leader in delivery of premium streaming content.” In addition to UFC 114 and future live fights, Roku users will also have access to the UFC® Vault™, the world’s largest collection of archived fights, as well as live access to UFC pre-fight events including the official weigh-ins, and pre-and-post fight press conferences, hosted by White. First introduced in May 2008 as the original Netflix player, the affordable Roku streaming player is a little box that allows you to instantly stream tons of entertainment on your TV—without a PC. Roku’s rapidly expanding library of instant entertainment includes over 50,000 movies and TV shows, live sporting events, music, and more. Roku players start at just $79.99 for the standard definition model and $99.99 for the HD model. For more information on Roku and the UFC channel, visit http://www.roku.com/ufc Source: Roku
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Turner Sports and The PGA of America announced today they will offer coverage of the 92nd PGA Championship in 3D on Thursday, Aug. 12 and Friday, Aug. 13, on PGA.com and through TNT’s television distributors Bright House Networks, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications, DIRECTV, and Time Warner Cable. The 3D coverage will focus on the par-3 12th and 17th holes at Whistling Straits from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. ET each day. Host Vince Cellini who will be joined by 2002 PGA Champion Rich Beem will provide commentary and analysis on the holes. Beem also will provide analysis throughout the weekend during PGA.com’s extensive 2D online offerings.
