EchoStar Launches Interactive Fantasy Football

[Scott Greczkowski]

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA447912?display=SatelliteGuys+News

EchoStar Launches Interactive Fantasy Football

By Steve Donohue -- Multichannel News, 8/26/2004 2:04:00 PM

EchoStar Communications Corp. launched an interactive-TV fantasy-football game available to 9 million Dish Network customers with access to interactive-TV content.

The rollout of the “Fantasy Sports College” and “Fantasy Sports Pro” games, produced by OpenTV Corp., make EchoStar the first satellite or cable company to market an interactive fantasy-football game.

EchoStar said subscribers will be able to compete nationally against friends and family, and the players who earn the most points at the end of each season will win HDTV systems.

Weekly point winners for the college and pro games will get free subscriptions to the 2005 “NBA League Pass” National Basketball Association or “NHL Center Ice” National Hockey League out-of-market subscription packages.

EchoStar is charging subscribers $19.99 per season for the Fantasy Sports College and Fantasy Sports Pro football games, or $4.99 monthly. The 14-week college season kicks off Aug. 28, while the 17-week pro season launches Sept. 9.

 

[Sean Mota]

Man, talk about useless things that Dish is doing... Get back to do TV and get subscribers some decent HD channels.

 

[Juan]

Isn't sports gambleing against the law??? :shocked

 

[gpflepsen]

Man, talk about useless things that Dish is doing... Get back to do TV and get subscribers some decent HD channels.

Why does dish think we want gimmicks? Concentrate on the core of the business; namely programming, equipment and software. Not necessarily in that order.

 

[Bobby]

These "gimmicks" make Dish money, now that's compelling.....

 

[gpflepsen]

These "gimmicks" make Dish money, now that's compelling.....

Who are the saps buying this stuff?