Rivals.com to Launch Network of Team Channels

Posted on December 3, 1999

Rivals.com, a network of sports team and specialty websites, has announced that it is launching a network of team-specific multi-media channels. The Rivals.com channel offering is being backed by a content sharing agreement with News Corporation's News Digital Media, producer of FOXSports.com.

Rivals.com users will have direct access to video from FOXSports.com. FOXSports.com, including its regional sites and team pages, will link to Rivals.com and provide news and video for each team channel. FOXSports.com will offer Rivals.com top daily headlines featuring news and video. The headlines will be updated throughout the day with direct links to FOXSports.com. Rivals.com will provide FOXSports.com with its team-specific news, insider reports, recruiting information and rankings. Additionally, Rivals.com will provide FOX Sports direct access to its team channel audio and video content, including player interviews, assessment drills, game highlights and coaches' shows.

"Fox is an ideal equity and content partner for us. We are thrilled to have established a long-term strategic alliance with the worldwide leader in sports programming and online video," said Rivals.com Chairman and CEO J.C. Heckman. "Rivals.com is creating a world of 'team channels' where fans can watch their favorite team play, read live statistics feeds, chat with friends and purchase team-specific merchandise -- all directly from their team communities. This will create a single destination for the fan seeking the best of their favorite team on the Web."