MLB.com Mobile App Offers Fans a Chance to Win $5.6 Million Grand Prize
MLB.com has introduced a Beat the Streak mobile application built exclusively for iPhone, offering fans the chance to win a $5.6 million grand prize in the free fantasy game if they can surpass the legendary consecutive games hitting streak mark of 56 games. In addition to the new iPhone App, accessible in the App Store, the free-to-play game and official rules also are available online at MLB.com/bts.
Fan participation in Beat the Streak fantasy game continues at a record clip in 2011 as more than 2 million streaks have been started since Opening Day, representing a 105% increase over the same period in 2010. Since Beat the Streak’s inaugural season in 2001, more than 30 million streaks have been started by users, including the current all-time record of 49 straight games (2007).
“Beat the Streak always has been a fun and easy way for fans to wade into fantasy baseball and the iPhone App expands fans’ participatory opportunities,” said Gregg Klayman, Vice President, Product Development for MLB.com, and Beat The Streak creator. “The game provides a lively and engaging platform, putting fans into the figurative shoes of players chasing this hallowed baseball record, while also vying against friends, colleagues, and millions of others in pursuit of the $5.6 million grand prize.” Read more
Live Baseball Returns to MLB.com on Saturday
MLB.TV 2011 live streaming schedule begins with three Spring Training matchups: Phillies-Yankees, Braves-Mets, Rockies-Diamondbacks
MLB.com will present the first of more than 150 live Spring Training games from Florida and Arizona camps beginning tomorrow with a trio of games, the Philadelphia Phillies-New York Yankees (1:05 p.m. EST), Atlanta Braves-New York Mets (1:10 p.m. EST) and Colorado Rockies-Arizona Diamondbacks (3:10 p.m. EST).
The entire allotment of select Spring Training broadcasts, along with every out-of-market game of the 2011 regular season, is available as part of a MLB.TV subscription. As one of the largest subscription video offerings on the Internet, MLB.TV has served one billion live video streams since its inception, 25% of which were delivered in 2010 alone.
Spring Training 2011
Fans again will be able to watch select live games from Spring Training on their Mac/PC and on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices with a free MLB.TV sneak preview included within the top-selling MLB.com At Bat applications for each. It marks the earliest availability ever for live streaming Spring Training games on mobile devices.
Opening Day 2011
In addition to the accessible devices offered for Spring Training, MLB.TV subscribers will be able to watch every regular season game with support across select Android devices through At Bat 11, Sony PS3 and other connected devices. Additional platform offerings for MLB.TV live streaming will be announced as they become available.
Subscribers will get a host of cutting-edge features in the award-winning MLB.TV media player, including HD quality picture, alternate audio options, in progress highlights and fantasy player tracker alerts, clickable linescores, multi-game viewing options (Premium), home and away feeds (Premium) and DVR functionality (Premium).
MLB.TV and MLB.TV Premium with complete portability are available to subscribers for annual fees of $99.99 and $119.99, respectively, for the entire 2011 season.
MLB.com Captures Multiple Awards for its Mobile Technology Offerings
MLB.com, the official Web site of Major League Baseball, was a multiple-category winner for its mobile technology offerings at the annual MOBI Awards, garnering top honors for Best Mobile Video and Best iPad Branded App. The awards were presented on Monday night during ceremonies hosted at the W Hotel in New York.
At Bat 2010, MLB.com’s industry-leading mobile application, won for Best Mobile Video. The application offers subscribers on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad access to their MLB.TV subscriptions to watch the live home and away broadcast feeds for every out-of-market regular season game and get access to an array of enhanced features such as statistical overlays and controls to pause or rewind live game action. At Bat 2010 also offers the At Bat.TV Free Game of the Day, subject to blackout restrictions.
At Bat 2010 for iPad, the most recent addition to MLB.com’s lineup of At Bat mobile applications, was named Best iPad Branded App. Launched in April 2010, At Bat 2010 for iPad introduced baseball fans to a live game simulation designed exclusively for the device’s larger and more powerful multi-touch screen. Subscribers can customize their in-game experience with access to live home and away radio broadcasts, video highlights, and detailed box scores, game summaries and player cards.
MLB.com’s mobile web site, wap.mlb.com, earned finalist honors in the category of Best Mobile Website. The MOBI Awards, presented by DIGIDAY, recognize overall excellence and breakthrough achievement in mobile media, marketing and advertising.
MLB.com At Bat 2010 is available from the App Store on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.
2010 All-Star Game Final Vote Now Available Exclusively on MLB.com
Online balloting for final player on each All-Star Team continues through July 8
American and National League All-Star Team managers Joe Girardi and Charlie Manuel, in conjunction with Major League Baseball, have announced the candidates for the 2010 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint to be held exclusively on MLB.com, the official Web site of Major League Baseball, and the individual Club Web sites. This year’s ballots include six players on teams currently in first place in their respective divisions and four on teams contending for postseason berths over the season’s second half, setting the stage for spirited campaigning for each of the 10 candidates.
The five candidates for the final roster spot on the National League All-Star Team are: Heath Bell of the San Diego Padres; Carlos Gonzalez of the Colorado Rockies; Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds; Billy Wagner of the Atlanta Braves; and Ryan Zimmerman of the Washington Nationals.
On the American League side, the five players on the ballot are: Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox; Nick Swisher of the New York Yankees; Kevin Youkilis of the Boston Red Sox; Delmon Young of the Minnesota Twins; and Michael Young of the Texas Rangers.
Fans began casting votes for the 2010 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint immediately following today’s Major League Baseball All-Star Selection Show presented by Taco Bell on TBS and can continue until balloting concludes at 4 p.m. (EDT) on Thursday, July 8. The winners, as chosen exclusively by online fan voting totals, will be announced on MLB.com shortly thereafter.
Mobile voting is available exclusively on Sprint, Nextel and Boost capable mobile phones and fans can send the word “Vote” to 1122 to receive the 2010 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint ballot. Message and data rates may apply. In Canada, fans can text “Vote” to 88555. Standard text rates apply.
Originally introduced during this year’s online balloting for the elected starters, fans can campaign for their favorite player on the Final Vote ballot through MLB.com’s All-Star Campaign Manager program, tallying points by getting their friends, family and co-workers to vote through social networking, and competing to be recognized as an “official” Final Vote Campaign Manager for any player they helped support. Read more
MLB.com, Turner Sports and FOX Sports give fans live user-controlled views for every MLB postseason game
Collaboration expands TBS HotCorner and FOX Feeds action and introduces mobile video
Postseason.TV, a live interactive online viewing experience delivered by MLB.com, the official Web site of Major League Baseball, in partnership with MLB Postseason national television rightsholders, Turner Sports and FOX Sports, will debut on Wednesday, October 7, 2009, when the Division Series begins on TBS. Postseason.TV will be accessible from MLB.com, FoxSports.com on MSN and MLB.com/TBSHotCorner.
The subscription product provides fans the ability to customize their online viewing experience by offering up to 10 different stationary camera angles from every MLB Postseason game, blackout free. Postseason.TV delivers a complementary way for viewers to engage with the Division Series and National League Championship Series broadcasts on TBS and the American League Championship Series and World Series on FOX, while, for the first time, offering a complete package of live Postseason action for a one-time fee of $9.95.
Subscribers to Postseason.TV can choose to watch one of the available camera angles or up to any four different angles simultaneously in the multi-view option. In addition, TBS HotCorner and FOX Feeds will provide access to in-game video highlights, real-time statistics and play-by-play and social media integration through a live Twitter feed.
Fans also will have the opportunity to make Postseason.TV portable as MLB.com At Bat 2009, the award-winning application built exclusively for iPhone(TM) and iPod® touch, will provide mobile access to the same live camera angles as well as the quad mode option.
Source: MLB.com; Turner Sports; FOX Sports