2008 Wimbledon LIVE Demonstrates Continued Success for MediaZone in Online International...

Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:00am EDT
 
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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
SAN CARLOS, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
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 GBP 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.

For MediaZone
Melissa Klein and Nicole DeByl, 415-625-8555
mediazone@launchsquad.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008

 

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