Sports Illustrated related Press Releases

The Minisode Network Strips Down to Launch Sports Illustrated Minisodes

Jason Ankeny — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:21:41 -0500

Sony Pictures Television's The Minisode Network presents the "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit" minisodes exclusively on Crackle.com (www.crackle.com/siswimsuit).

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080424/LATH509LOGO)

Using the content from Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Television Specials, each minisode - 5-minute adaptations of favorite television shows that retain the full story arc of the episode - showcases various models featured in the 2003, 2004 and 2005 swimsuit issues. Viewers are able to enjoy watching the likes of Heidi Klum, Molly Sims, Petra Nemcova, Marisa Miller, Ana Kournikova and 2009 swimsuit model, Jessica White, behind-the-scenes as they play for the camera and frolic in exotic locations such as Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Costa Rica and Guatemala.

Twenty-six episodes are available on The Minisode Network at Crackle.com. Distribution will expand to partner sites including YouTube (youtube.com/minisodenetwork), Hulu, MySpace (myspace.com/minisodenetwork), Adobe Media Player, TV.com, AOL, VEOH and on mobile at Verizon Wireless' V-Cast Video and SprintTV on March 16.

About The Minisode Network

Sony Pictures Television's The Minisode Network is the premiere multi-platform network for the minisode: 5-minute adaptations of favorite television shows that retain the full story arc of the episode. Perfect for online and mobile viewers, audiences can discover and reconnect with iconic characters and television series quickly at their favorite video portals. Enjoy minisodes from "The Three Stooges," Facts of Life," "Married with Children," "Spiderman," "Charlie's Angels," He-Man," "Square Pegs," "The Jeffersons," and many other TV favorites. Spend some time on The Minisode Network via Sony Pictures' Crackle.com; YouTube; MySpace; Hulu; Adobe Media Player; AOL; TidalTV; Sling; Bebo; IMDB; TV.com; Joost; on mobile at Verizon Wireless' V Cast Video and SprintTV; and direct to Sony BRAVIA TVs via BRAVIA Internet Video Link. The Minisode Network: The Shows You Love. Only Shorter.

About Crackle.com

Crackle, Inc., a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, is a multi-platform next-generation video entertainment network that distributes digital content including original short form series and full-length traditional programming from Sony Pictures' vast library of television series and feature films. Crackle is one of the fastest growing entertainment destinations on the Internet today, offering audiences quality programming in a variety of genres, including comedy, action, sci-fi, horror, music and reality. Crackle reaches a global audience through its impressive online and mobile distribution network. Visit Crackle's site at www.crackle.com.

Crisp Wireless Partners with The Sports Illustrated Group to Deliver Mobile Website for Off-carrier Deck Users

Jason Ankeny — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:22:36 -0400

Crisp Wireless (www.crispwireless.com), the leader in monetizing and powering mobile ventures for top media and entertainment companies worldwide, and the Sports Illustrated Group announced the launch of SI's new off-deck mobile web site. This new site expands the Crisp Wireless Premier Publisher Network's sports offerings to advertisers seeking out highly-trafficked mobile sites in the category.

The new ad-supported, interactive SI Mobile website offers consumers long form analysis and reporting from famed SI writers such as Peter King, Tom Verducci, Jack McCallum and Michael Farber, as well as hundreds of other stories and sports images produced exclusively for SI Mobile. The "Truth and Rumors" section provides users with the latest buzz on potential moves, hirings, firings and news in sports. The site will also feature a new live Game section where users can check scores, standings, stats, and the schedules of their favorite teams. SI Mobile covers every sports genre and level from football to horseback riding, professional to high school. The mobile site can be found at m.si.com.

"Sports Illustrated's heritage as one of the worldwide marquee brands in sports offers advertisers a tremendous opportunity to reach a well-read, high-end audience through the Crisp Wireless Publisher Network," said Boris Fridman, CEO, Crisp Wireless. "The new off-deck site allows anyone access to some of the best sports information available on a mobile phone, including SI's award-winning reporting and analysis on the fly."

Crisp Wireless will work with Sports Illustrated's ad sales department and partner mobile ad networks to offer advertisers a wide variety of marketing opportunities on SI Mobile.

About The Sports Illustrated Group

The SI Group is the most respected voice in sports journalism and delivering the best coverage in the business, reaching a weekly audience of nearly 25 million adults. SI Digital is home to SI.com, DanPatrick.com, FanNation.com, Takkle.com, SIONCAMPUS.com, SI Mobile, mySI and SI on Demand. The SI Golf Group is the number one golf media company, reaching users daily, weekly and monthly through Golf Magazine, SI Golf Plus and Golf.com. The SI Group also includes Sports Illustrated Kids (www.sikids.com), SI Books and SI Events. Founded in 1954, the SI Group is a division of Time Inc., the world's leading magazine company and a subsidiary of Time Warner.

About Crisp Wireless

Crisp Wireless is the leader in mobile solutions and services which effectively monetize and power mobile business for top media and entertainment companies worldwide. Crisp Wireless powers and manages the largest, premiere mobile publisher network across such vertical industries as news, local, sports, automotive, and women's lifestyle.

The Crisp Wireless Publisher Network has more than 200 mobile web sites from more than 45 major media companies and their brands such as Time Warner, NBC Sports, Gannett, Tribune Interactive, A&E, Bravo Cable Network, Hearst, Discovery Communications, Hachette Filipacchi, and Paramount Pictures, among others. The company is also one of the top local mobile site providers with a wide breadth of offerings that cross multiple vertical segments in all 150 DMAs.
Crisp Wireless plays a critical role in the mobile ad-value chain by enabling mobile advertising and commerce through its relationships with prominent mobile search providers, ad networks, carriers, and publishers, maximizing revenue for its Publisher Network and advertisers. More than one-third of all unique mobile web users pass through Crisp's network, offering advertisers and ad networks unprecedented levels of ad targeting capabilities such as behavioral, contextual, usage data and other consumer insights.

VIVA VISION, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FORGE PARTNERSHIP TO EXPAND MOBILE CONTENT OFFERINGS

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:30:29 -0400

Viva Vision, a leading provider of mobile entertainment, today announced a strategic partnership with the Sports Illustrated Group to produce the SI Swimsuit slideshow, an application featuring Sports Illustrated models wearing designer swimwear in exotic locales. Viva Vision will have access to Sports Illustrated's vast library, including images from this year's issue, as well as the most popular models of the past.

"Sports Illustrated is an iconic legacy brand with a passionate audience that we know will be a huge success on mobile. Their extensive and visually stunning image library makes them the perfect partner for Viva Vision and our slideshow platform," said Nick Montes, President, Viva Vision. "Viva Vision experienced an incredible year in 2007 and with expanded distribution and world class content partners like Sports Illustrated, will continue to drive significant growth in 2008."

Viva Vision's proprietary slideshow platform includes interactive features which allow subscribers to pause, rewind, fast-forward, and save favorite images from the slideshow. The subscriber community also controls which content is featured by voting on their favorite images.

"Viva Vision's innovative slideshow platform is at the vanguard of the mobile industry and will provide a creative brand extension for SI Swimsuit, the most powerful franchise in publishing," said Stacey Vollman, Vice President/GM, SI Digital.

Viva Vision experienced a 350% revenue growth in 2007 and a 130% spike in subscribers in 2007. In addition to Slideshows, Viva Vision's patented mobile entertainment products include video on demand, and live video applications. Viva Vision content is distributed on 23 direct carriers worldwide.

The SI Swimsuit slideshow will be available in various wireless markets mid-summer.

About Viva! Vision
Viva Vision is the leading provider of entertainment applications and content for slideshows, video on demand, and live video for mobile phones. Based in Santa Monica, Viva Vision delivers programming to the broadest number of handsets through its suite of broadcast platforms, and also produces its own original consumer-driven content. Working with its world-class partners, Viva Vision is able to reach over 250 million wireless subscribers worldwide. For more information about Viva Vision, please visit www.vivavision.com.

About The Sports Illustrated Group:
The SI Group is the most respected voice in sports journalism and delivering the best coverage in the business, reaching a weekly audience of nearly 25 million adults. SI Digital is home to SI.com, DanPatrick.com, FanNation.com, Takkle.com, SIONCAMPUS.com, SI Mobile, mySI and SI on Demand. The SI Golf Group is the number one golf media company, reaching users daily, weekly and monthly through Golf Magazine, SI Golf Plus and Golf.com. The SI Group also includes Sports Illustrated Kids (www.sikids.com ), SI Books and SI Events. Founded in 1954, the SI Group is a division of Time Inc., the world's leading magazine company and a subsidiary of Time Warner.

Sports Illustrated Partners With mywaves to Mobilize Swimsuit Issue Video Content

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 09:30:09 -0500

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- mywaves, the largest mobile video destination and the Sports Illustrated Digital Group, today announced a partnership to make video content related to Sports Illustrated's famous Swimsuit Issue available through a dedicated mywaves channel at http://www.mywaves.com. Consumers will now be able to view more than 50 video clips, including video from photo shoots, interviews with the models, and more, all free of charge simply by visiting the mywaves website from their phone.Ã‚Â

The deal between Sports Illustrated and mywaves brings together one of the world's most popular media franchises with a leading provider of mobile video for this key audience. More than 70 million people will read the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue and it is anticipated that there will be over 250 million page views at SI.com/Swimsuit.

"The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit franchise is one of the most powerful phenomena in publishing and new media," said Rajeev Raman, CEO and founder, mywaves. "Now, mywaves is pleased to help Sports Illustrated extend its reach into mobile video, the latest consumer media hotspot, to reach both longtime fans and a new generation of viewers."

As the most broadly distributed, fastest-growing mobile video provider, mywaves reaches five million unique visitors monthly through more than 300,000 channels dedicated to content from the world's leading media companies, user-generated video, and everything in between.

"mywaves is the ideal partner to extend the SI Swimsuit franchise to a global audience of mobile phone users," said Stacey Vollman, Vice President and GM, SI Digital.

The mywaves channel dedicated to the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue will be ad-supported. US-based audiences will view domestic ads, while those overseas will view international ads sold by mywaves.

About mywaves Inc.

mywaves is the largest mobile video destination for consumers, attracting over 5 million unique visitors monthly to its free mobile video service. Consumers can browse through nearly 400,000 channels of premium, private and user-generated videos and have their favorites automatically updated and delivered to their phones. Most users tune in to watch mywaves video weekly with average viewing times of 24 minutes per session. The service works globally across all 3G, EDGE, BREW and EV-DO carriers as well as most video-capable mobile phones, including Palm, Windows Mobile, Symbian and RIM based phones. Headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., mywaves is led by a team from Yahoo!, Napster, Danger, Palm and TiVo. The company is funded by venture capital firm, Menlo Ventures. For more information or to sign up for mywaves, go to http://www.mywaves.com or from a mobile browser: http://www.mywaves.com/m.

Source: mywaves Inc.