NFL Selects RealNetworks as Exclusive Streaming Media Partner For Superbowl.com, NFL Pro Bowl, and the NFL Draft
More Than 95 Million RealPlayer Users to Access Net-Exclusive Coverage Of Super Bowl Week, as Well as Highlights From the Last 33 Super Bowls
January 25, 2000 09:02 AM Eastern Time
NEW YORK and SEATTLE, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- RealNetworks(R), Inc. RNWK , the recognized leader in media delivery on the Internet, and the National Football League today announced that the NFL has selected RealNetworks as the exclusive Streaming Media Provider for Superbowl.com. This agreement will enable more than 95 million RealPlayer(R) users to experience special coverage of Super Bowl week, including celebrity webcasts, player interviews, concerts from multi-platinum musical artists, and consumer customizable highlight reels from previous Super Bowls.
"We're very pleased to be working with RealNetworks on this exciting initiative," said NFL senior vice president of new media Chris Russo. "This combination of the two leaders in their respective fields will provide NFL fans with unparalleled Super Bowl coverage and a unique entertainment experience."
"We are excited to be joining with the NFL to provide RealPlayer users with exclusive Internet of Super Bowl week," said Shelley Morrison, vice president, Media and Advertising Sales, RealNetworks, Inc. "This agreement will provide a worldwide audience with the richest and most engaging Super Bowl media experience to date."
Super Bowl Week Live (Daily) Coverage
This week's coverage of Super Bowl will begin with NFL player interviews and commentary from ESPN analysts Ron Jaworski and Merril Hoge and NFL.com analyst Gil Brandt, in live daily webcasts from 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. ET, direct from the Superbowl.com Radio Booth.
Throughout the week, Superbowl.com will feature Championship Game highlights, Game Previews, player profiles, and a history of the two competing teams. A video diary of a participating Super Bowl player will air each day leading up to the big game.
Additional Superbowl.com Net-Exclusive, week-long coverage features numerous activities and festivities from the Georgia Dome, such as Pre- and Post- Game Press Conferences, the NFL Tailgate Party, and the NFL Under the Helmet Concert Series from the NFL Experience. In addition, the NFL will deploy RealNetworks proprietary RealSlideshow(TM) technology to present a daily multimedia update showing highlights of events around Atlanta.
Webcasting crews will also be positioned in locations throughout Atlanta to capture footage from the AFC and NFC Team Hotels, media and other NFL activities in and around the Georgia World Congress Center, and fan pre-game festivities and post-game celebrations in the Buckhead entertainment district of Atlanta.
Once the Super Bowl Champs have been crowned and the Super Bowl celebrations have died down, fans can expect Super Bowl highlights to be available in RealVideo Sunday evening, and then anticipate a Pro Bowl Preview on Thursday, the 3rd of February.
Fan-Created Highlight Reels
Another aspect of the RealNetworks alliance with Superbowl.com allows fans to easily produce and watch their own streaming highlight reel of their favorite plays from the last 33 Super Bowls. Users are able to select directly from Superbowl.com the highlights they want to watch, in the order in which they want to see them, and then receive their personalized highlights through the RealPlayer. This enables fans, for example, to combine a 1st quarter play from Super Bowl XII with the final touchdown of Super Bowl XXX, thereby creating a uniquely personal football experience.
After the Super Bowl, RealNetworks will continue to work with the NFL on future events including the AFC - NFC Pro Bowl in February and the NFL draft in April.
About RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc., based in Seattle, is the recognized leader in streaming media delivery on the Internet. It develops and markets software products and services designed to enable users of personal computers and other consumer electronic devices to send and receive audio, video and other multimedia services using the Web. Consumers can access and experience audio/video programming and download RealNetworks consumer software on the Internet at real.com. All RealNetworks systems and corporate information is located on the Internet at realnetworks.com.
NOTE: RealNetworks, RealPlayer, RealSlideshow, RealAudio, RealVideo, RealText and RealPix are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. RealFlash is a trademark of Macromedia, Inc. and RealNetworks, Inc. Macromedia and Flash are registered trademarks of Macromedia, Inc. All other companies or products listed herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE RealNetworks, Inc.
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