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News- Strikeforce All Access |
NEW YORK (April 8, 2009)— SHOWTIME
will offer Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fans the opportunity to get
immersed in the April 11, blockbuster premiere of Strikeforce on
SHOWTIME with its new interactive online experience, Strikeforce:
All Access , it was announced today by the network’s Senior Vice
President and General Manager, Sports and Event Programming, Ken
Hershman . The digital initiative, an interactive live stream of
Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz , on Saturday, April 11 , further
demonstrates the premium network’s commitment to leading the
television industry in online, mobile, and interactive content
distribution.
Fans can purchase the live webcast simultaneously with the live
SHOWTIME telecast beginning at 10 p.m. ET*. Online participants
can control their own viewing experience through multiple camera
angles with corresponding audio tracks as well as interact with
fellow users, view user-generated photos and download select
music tracks from the event.
"By and large, the core fight fans watching MMA on SHOWTIME are
among the most technologically savvy of all viewers," said
Hershman. "We are proud to offer this enhanced experience to an
audience that will embrace the opportunity to control the
content and interact with one another during the live show.
Strikeforce: All Access puts you in the driver seat."
Strikeforce: All Access will cost $24.95 per user and is
available for review and pre-order by visiting
http://strikeforce.sho.com .
With Strikeforce: All Access , fans can be the producer. Users
can toggle between five live cameras surrounding the cage with
full pause and rewind capabilities. Audio tracks will include
the SHOWTIME telecast fight call by Gus Johnson , Mauro Ranallo
and Pat Miletich , and the corresponding audio to the selected
camera. SHOWTIME is working with BitGravity, Inc. and Episodic,
Inc. to enable this unique multi-camera experience.
Fans will be able to make predictions, comment on live fights,
discuss outcomes and even talk a little smack with All Access
through a live Facebook® Connect application.
Other Strikeforce: All Access features will include professional
photography from the action in the cage, as well as
behind-the-scenes, backstage and fan photos. Images will be
uploaded during the live event via Flickr , the popular image
and video hosting website and online community.
If users want to own the ring-walk music of their favorite
fighter, they can purchase select songs via iTunes directly from
links on the site.
“SHOWTIME has led the industry in multi-platform initiatives for
years,” said Robert Hayes , Senior Vice President and General
Manager, Digital Media for SHOWTIME. “We were the first premium
network to offer content on iTunes. We were the first to offer
Emmy® voters online screenings of SHOWTIME nominees. We partner
with over 100 sites when sampling episodes of our original
series and SHOWTIME Sports content. And we are the only premium
network offering the explosive sport of mixed martial arts."
“Sports will be one of the big winners with the availability of
high quality, scalable and affordable live streaming,” said
Chris Turner , VP of Worldwide Sales and Business Development at
BitGravity. “SHOWTIME understands that sport fans demand a
seamless viewing experience with a quality stream, quick start
and no download. We are delighted to work with them to deliver
Strikeforce: All Access. ”
The April 11 fight card features MMA pioneer Frank Shamrock
taking on his newest rival, superstar Nick Diaz in the main
event. Female MMA phenom Cris "Cyborg" of Brazil will take on
Japan's Hitomi Akano , middleweight contender Scott Smith will
face Benji Radach and heavyweights Brett Rogers and "Abongo"
Humphrey will square off to round out the show. Plus, Gilbert
Melendez will face an opponent to be announced in a lightweight
match.
*Telecast airs live at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME (delayed on the
West Coast); Strikeforce: All Access will be webcast live at 10
p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
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