ESPNU, ESPN.com and XOS Technologies Sign Agreement for College Sports Content and...

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BRISTOL, Conn. & SANFORD, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 31, 2006--ESPNU and ESPN.com announced today plans for enhancing college sports content via an agreement with XOS Technologies, a leading provider of sports technology solutions to a host of collegiate teams and conferences. The agreement allows for sharing of online news, information, features and video and audio assets, and cross promotion between ESPNU and the XOS network of college athletics websites. XOS provides Internet publishing for more than 65 sports teams, leagues and conferences.

"The agreement provides ESPNU with another significant line of communication with college sports fans, establishing an even stronger localized presence in the communities of a long list of colleges and universities," said Burke Magnus, vice president and general manager, ESPNU. "This alliance allows us to better deliver on our multimedia promise to serve fans however they consume sports and wherever they are."

Under the agreement, the network of collegiate athletic sites developed and served by XOS will share news, information and features with ESPN.com and will have the opportunity to co-brand their sites with ESPNU and share ESPNU and ESPN.com-produced content. ESPNU will also share branding and content with College Sports Direct (www.collegesportsdirect.com), the college sports programming guide published by XOS. Schools and conferences served by XOS include Louisiana State University, University of Minnesota, University of Arizona, University of Oklahoma, San Jose State University, University of Nebraska, University of Oregon, Duke University, Missouri Valley Conference, Sun Belt Conference and many more top programs from around the country.

Additionally, ESPNU, ESPN.com and XOS will work closely together in determining opportunities to share multimedia content, including online video and audio streaming of college sports events, maximizing exposure for fans.

"College sports fans are going to benefit from the amazing amount of synergy in this relationship," said Nada Usina, President, XOS Technologies. "Aligning with brands as powerful as ESPNU and ESPN.com allows XOS to bring even more value to our network of partner sites, and enables ESPN to deepen their college sports coverage and connection to fans."

About XOS Technologies, Inc.

In its mission to offer one-stop technology solutions geared to help sports teams and leagues win on and off the field, XOS Technologies has developed four product lines - Digital Video Editing Coaching Tools, Facilities Design & Integration, XOS On-Line Fan Management Platform and XOS Total Ticketing & Donor Management Solution - which help teams and leagues integrate video, data, teaching and fan management technologies to assure maximum return on each technology investment. XOS Technologies' audio, video, computer, software and Internet products can be found at practice facilities, arenas and on the road across the country. XOS' more than 700 clients include teams in the NFL, AFL, CFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLB, MLS and NCAA. For additional information, please visit: www.xostech.com.

About ESPNU

ESPNU was launched in March 2005. The ESPNU schedule featured 477 live events (regular-season and championships) in the network's first year. ESPNU also offers comprehensive studio programming, replays of ABC Sports, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Regional Television games, plus specials and more. In addition, the network has a wide-ranging, long-term agreement with the NCAA calling for extensive coverage of numerous NCAA Championships, including sports from each of the three collegiate seasons.

In the 2005 Beta Research Cable Subscriber Study - Interest in Emerging/Mid-sized/VOD Networks, ESPNU was ranked sixth (tied) among men 18-34 for high interest in watching each network, out of the 40 emerging/digital networks assessed. This was the first time ESPNU was evaluated by Beta Research.

ESPNU has secured distribution agreements with DIRECTV (Channel 609), Echostar's DISH Network (Channel 148), Adelphia, Insight Communications, Mediacom, Verizon, several smaller affiliates and is close to distribution agreements with others. The 24-hour television network is the key component of the multi-media ESPNU initiative that will deliver college sports content across ESPN's family of services, such as ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, Mobile ESPN, ESPN Radio, ESPN Interactive, ESPN360, merchandising and more.

About ESPN.com

ESPN.com, a division of ESPN Inc., is the leading provider of sports on the Internet, and the only major sports site to receive the Online Journalism Award for General Excellence. ESPN.com is also home to ESPNdeportes.com and ESPNsoccernet.com, and works in conjunction with the Walt Disney Internet Group.


Contact:

XOS Technologies, Inc.
Craig Rosenshein, 407-936-0867
crosenshein@xostech.com
or
ESPN
Tilea Coleman, 860-766-3438
tilea.coleman@espn.com
or
Euro RSCG Magnet
Maureen Shaw, 212-367-6847
Maureen.Shaw@eurorscg.com

Source: XOS Technologies, Inc. and ESPN Inc.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/060331/20060331005177.html?.v=1
 

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