2008 Wimbledon LIVE Demonstrates Continued Success for MediaZone in Online International Sports Coverage
Worldwide Broadcasts of International Events Gaining Traction as a Complement to or Replacement of Traditional Coverage
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: See info below
06/18/08 - San Carlos, CA--As more and more consumers turn to the Internet as a complementary medium to mainstream broadcasting or as a primary vehicle to watch hard to find events, MediaZone has seen strong momentum as a leader in broadband sports and entertainment video services.
In 2008, MediaZone has extended its broadband lineup with the addition of IndyCar Race Control, the most interactive viewing experience for IndyCar fans around the world. The company has also continued its long standing international rugby coverage of annual tournaments and renewed its partnership with the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) as the official online broadcaster of The Championships at Wimbledon, which will begin airing online LIVE and On-Demand on June 23 at www.wimbledon.org/LIVE.
2008 Wimbledon LIVE: The Crown Jewel of Broadband Tennis Coverage
This week MediaZone, the Official LIVE Broadband Video Partner of the AELTC announced that broadband access to The Championships at Wimbledon will be available to viewers worldwide via the Wimbledon LIVE service (www.wimbledon.org/LIVE) for the third consecutive year.
Since its debut in 2006, Wimbledon LIVE has joined March Madness and the Masters as mainstays on the broadband sports circuit as consumers have increasingly embraced the Web for hard to find sporting events or coverage that expands on traditional broadcast offerings. In its two previous years, MediaZone’s coverage of Wimbledon has set tennis industry records for site visitors, live streams and downloads, while achieving a 129% increase in revenue. MediaZone expects to continue this trend based on strong early demand for Wimbledon LIVE from tennis fans seeking in-depth coverage of the tournament available only through MediaZone.
2008 Wimbledon LIVE includes full match coverage of Centre Court and Number 1 Court action, as well as 6 other courts in play. In total, the service includes more than 300 matches and immersive features such as user ability to toggle between up to 8 courts, as well as live commentary, and complete integration with the official Wimbledon website, www.wimbledon.org. Viewers are able to combine video coverage with player information, live scoring and statistics from all matches.
“We’re thrilled to partner again with the AELTC, one of the oldest and most prestigious sporting institutions in the world and a leader with regard to streaming live sporting events” said Glen Marques, CEO, MediaZone. "Since 2006, we’ve worked with AELTC to provide the most comprehensive coverage of the Tournament and make the fan experience more immersive. We’re consistently pushing the boundaries with Wimbledon LIVE so fans can take their viewing experience beyond TV into the interactive realm of online media.”
Tennis enthusiasts can experience Wimbledon LIVE via an All Access Pass for US $24.99 (approx £12.63). Fans may also visit Wimbledon LIVE for free access to a variety of quarter final and final matches from past seasons and highlights from the 2007 Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ final matches.
IndyCar Race Control:
Beyond simply streaming races online, MediaZone’s IndyCar Race Control takes the broadcasts a step further, allowing fans to get the total racing experience all in one place. For LIVE events fans can select and switch in-car cam views while simultaneously analyzing top drivers throughout the race, reading the latest blogs from IndyCar Series drivers and teams, and following the latest IndyCar Series news as the race heats up all in one destination. Unique aspects of the offering include:
• Up to 6 driver dedicated in-car camera views: offering a firsthand view from the driver’s seat;
• 360-Degree Views: Mounted in-car cams that can pan 360 degrees in all weather conditions;
• Onboard Telemetry: Combines a live leaderboard offering live timing and scoring, GPS tracking, including the fastest lap. Fans will be in the driver’s seat with cockpit views, dashboard analytics, access to driver brake and throttle indicators, and complete performance analysis between any two drivers in the field.
A first for racing enthusiasts, IndyCar Race Control in total includes 15 customizable live races, including this year’s 92nd Indianapolis 500 plus 28 total races from the main race feed On Demand covering the 2007 & 2008 IndyCar Series season.
MediaZone Rugby:
Dovetailing on a successful broadcast of the 2007 IRB Rugby World Cup through a partnership with the International Rugby Board, MediaZone is the world’s home for rugby online with unrivalled worldwide coverage of more than 300 live matches a year to 205 countries including the Super 14, June Tests, Tri Nations Series, Currie Cup, Air New Zealand Cup, Heineken Cup, Celtic Fall Tests, Rugby Canada and other USA events. The June Tests are now underway and feature international teams from the Northern Hemisphere (England, Ireland, Wales, France, Italy and Scotland) competing against the national teams from the Southern Hemisphere (Australia, South Africa, Argentina and New Zealand).
This year rugby fans from all over the world are able to interact with fellow ruggers via live chat, during LIVE streaming of world class rugby matches on the web. In addition, MediaZone rugby analyst Matt Brown and his panel of rugby experts will be interacting and moderating LIVE open forums, contests and ongoing rugby dialogue with enthusiastic rugby viewers. Clans of rugby fans can log on and be part of the virtual crowd cheering for their favorite teams.
In addition to these latest content additions, MediaZone has added interactive features to enhance the viewing experience. Incorporating advanced and customizable features has helped MediaZone successfully serve sports enthusiasts around the world. Their continued success demonstrates how broadband is adding new value to live sporting events.
For all MediaZone events please visit: http://www.mediazone.com/.
MediaZone
MediaZone offers the largest selection of hard-to-find and premier sports video programming online. Incorporating interactive community features and delivering the most sought after sports content and events from around the world, MediaZone is the destination of choice for sports fans who want to follow the action and engage with other enthusiasts 24/7 through the latest in online technologies and programming innovations.
MediaZone has partnered with leading media brands including AOL and NBC Sports and is the official online broadcast partner for major events such as Wimbledon, Rugby
World Cup, Indianapolis 500, New York City Marathon, and FIM Motocross of Nations. To learn more about MediaZone’s exciting events and to join one of the fastest growing and most exciting sports communities online go to www.mediazone.com.
Contact:
For MediaZone:
Melissa Klein and Nicole DeByl
(415) 625-8555
mediazone@launchsquad.com
